Box Score

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's basketball dissolved a four-point deficit by shooting 63.3 percent (19-for-30) in the second half for a 76-56 win over Macalester on Wednesday, Jan. 7, in Sexton Arena.

The Johnnies (6-7, 3-2 MIAC) jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, but it was erased by the Scots with six quick points, followed by a shooting spree that gave the visitors the lead for the remainder of the first half. SJU tied the game at 20-20 and consistently got within two points of the Scots (6-8, 1-4 MIAC) but turned the ball over twice and missed three from long range in the final 6:50 of the half.

The Johnnies missed just one shot (11-for-12) in the opening 8:50 after the break, getting points from seven different players, including six from both sophomore guard Liam Farniok (Minneapolis, Minn./Southwest) and freshman guard Hudson Hochstedler (Monticello, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville). Saint John's forced three Macalester turnovers and held the Scots to 36.3 percent shooting (4-for-11) during their 29-12 run. Four of MAC's 12 points came from the free-throw line. 

All 11 Johnnies who played scored a point and SJU flipped the script on the glass by out-rebounding MAC 23-10 in the second half after succumbing a 20-14 margin in the game's first 20 minutes.

Freshman guard Peyton Podany (Anoka, Minn.) led the Johnnies in scoring for the second game in a row and the fifth time this season with 15 points on 6 of 12 shooting. He added six defensive rebounds, five assists and a steal. 

Junior post Vincent Hillesheim (Minneapolis, Minn./Hopkins) grabbed nine boards (three offensive, six defensive) and added eight points. Farniok and Hochstedler finished with eight alongside Hillesheim, with Farniok dishing out a game-high six assists. 



Noah Shannon, the reigning MIAC Men's Basketball Offensive Player of the Week, led all scorers with 18 points on 6 of 15 shooting. He also completed a double-double with 11 rebounds. Six of his points came from the free throw line, accounting for half of MAC's tallies from the charity stripe.

SJU improves to 93-29 against Macalester since the 1964-65 season, including a 51-11 record in Collegeville. The Johnnies have won 35 of the last 37 meetings in Sexton Arena and 38 of the last 40 overall.

The Johnnies play host to Hamline (11-2, 3-1 MIAC) for a 3 p.m. matinee this Saturday, Jan. 10, in Collegeville.