Box Score
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's basketball shot 30.4 percent (21-for-69) from the field, including a 10-for-47 (21.3 percent) showing from three-point range, in a 74-58 loss to Whitworth (Wash.) on Saturday, Nov. 22, in Sexton Arena.
The Johnnies (2-2 overall) made their first two shots of the game, both from beyond the arc, for an early 6-4 lead but proceeded to go 8-for-45 (17.8 percent) from three-point the rest of the way. The 47 three-point attempts are the most on record, surpassing the 16-for-44 performance in the 100-80 win at Macalester on Jan. 9, 1991.
SJU out-rebounded the taller Pirates (4-0 overall) by a 46-43 margin, including a 16-10 advantage on the glass that the home team converted into 16 second-chance points. The Johnnies finished at an even 50 percent – 11-for-22 – from inside the arc.
A three-pointer from freshman guard
Peyton Podany (Anoka, Minn.) cut the Johnnies' first-half deficit to six (33-27) with 3:01 left but the Pirates closed with a 7-2 run for a 40-29 lead. SJU shot 29.4 percent (10-for-34) from the floor and 5-for-23 (21.7 percent) from long range in the second half.
Thirteen Johnnies played 10 minutes or more in the loss. Freshman guard
Noah George (Roseville, Minn./Roseville Area) led three Johnnies in double figures with 13 points in 15 second-half minutes – his first collegiate appearance – off the bench.
Sophomore post
Charlie Theis (Cottage Grove, Minn./East Ridge) followed with 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds, while freshman post
Evan Weichert (New Prague, Minn.) totaled 10 points and five boards off the bench.
Stephen Behil led Whitworth, which shot 40.3 percent (25-for-62) overall and 7-for-30 (23.3 percent) from three-point, with 20 points.
The .304 shooting percentage is SJU's lowest since Jan. 21, 2017 at Carleton (28.3 percent, 15-for-53) and the program's worst at home since 2012 (30 percent, 18-for-60) vs. Division II St. Cloud State.
The Johnnies travel to face No. 7 Wisconsin-La Crosse (5-0 overall) at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26.
