Box Score

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – No. 12 Saint John's basketball earned a share of its 12th MIAC regular-season championship, and fourth in the last six seasons, with an 89-62 victory at Bethel on Saturday, Feb. 22.

SJU is the No. 2 seed in next week's six-team MIAC Playoffs and hosts an opponent to-be-determined in a semifinal at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, in Sexton Arena.

The Johnnies (22-3, 15-1 MIAC) shot 52.9 percent (37-for-70) from the field and outscored the Royals (11-14, 5-11 MIAC) 22-3 in second-chance points thanks to a 12-3 margin on the offensive glass (45-25 in total rebounds).

The visitors made 60 percent (21-for-35) of its shots, including 57.1 percent (8-for-14) from three-point range, for a 50-27 halftime lead. SJU led by 20 points or more in all but 10 seconds of the game's final 26:32. 

Senior guard Kooper Vaughn (St. Charles, Minn.) led SJU with 15 points on a 5-for-15 performance from behind the arc. The five treys brought him to within three of David Stokman's '19 program record of 266.

Senior guard Blake Berg (West Fargo, N.D./Sheyenne) was next with 14 points on a 7-for-9 afternoon from the floor, while senior wing Ryan Thissen (Rosemount, Minn./Eastview) totaled 13 points, five rebounds and four assists in 21 minutes.

Adam Mattes led four Royals in double figures with 16 points, including 14 in the second half.