Box Score

MOORHEAD, Minn. – Saint John's basketball lost a game of runs and lead changes at Concordia on Wednesday, Jan. 28, falling to the Cobbers 71-69.

SJU (10-9, 6-4 MIAC) watched an eight-point lead fade away late in the second half, falling scoreless for the final 4:09 of the game and missing two chances at a 1-and-1 free throw with 18 seconds remaining. Concordia (14-5, 6-4 MIAC) scored the final 10 points of the game and cut the Johnnies' lead to one with a trey off a turnover – three of 18 Cobber points after a takeaway. 

The Johnnies earned their first conference win of the season over Concordia on Dec. 6 in Collegeville, 82-65.

Saint John's started the game down 7-2 after going over three minutes without a field goal. Junior guard Baiden Bean (Farmington, Minn.) relieved SJU of its drought, hitting two from the line and pulling up for two more to give the Johnnies their first lead of the game 12:55 into the first half. 

Concordia responded with a 10-point run in less than two minutes, making every shot until freshman guard Peyton Podany (Anoka, Minn.) slowed the Cobbers' roll with his and the Johnnies' first three-pointer of the day. 

Cobber forward Jacob Cook's fifth free throw of the game swung a 10-point lead back in favor of the home team, 29-19. Bean sparked SJU once more, scoring four points and grabbing a board on the defensive end of the court to cut the lead to six. He started a 7-0 stretch for Saint John's, and a Podany layup-and-one tied it 32-32 at the half.

Both teams exchanged seven-point runs after the break and traded the lead a total of six times in the second frame. SJU was whistled for 10 second-half fouls, helping Concordia to the bonus with 11:14 to play in the game. 

Podany and junior wing Jamison Lien (Prior Lake, Minn.) combined to shoot 6 of 7 for SJU's largest and last lead of the game at 69-61. 

The Cobbers scored four in the paint and a three from Cook to cut it to one, 69-68. Bean was fouled first and missed his 1-and-1, but Liam Farniok scooped up the board for a quick second chance. He was fouled immediately and missed his shot at the line to give the Cobbers the ball back, who drove to the hoop for a quick layup and the final lead exchange. 

SJU shot 44.4 percent (28-for-63) from the floor and 25 percent (5-for-20) from beyond the arc. The Johnnies made all five of their first-half free throws but missed 4 of 7 in the second half. SJU grabbed 12 offensive rebounds to Concordia's four but scored just four second chance points.

Podany led the Johnnies with 23 points on 8-for-16 shooting (4-for-8 from three-point). He added six rebounds, two assists and a block. 

Bean finished with 17 points (7-for-18) and eight assists, while junior post Vincent Hillesheim (Minneapolis, Minn.) completed the double-double with 10 points and 12 boards.

Cook led all scorers with 26 points on 7 of 14 shooting. He made 9 of 10 free throws and drew seven fouls.

The Johnnies travel to St. Scholastica (6-13, 2-7 MIAC) for a 3 p.m. tip-off on Saturday, Jan. 31, in Duluth.