BOX SCORE
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - As the Royals attempted to build a two-game win-streak in MIAC play after the three-week break, the Johnnies of Saint John's University had other thoughts on Wednesday night as Bethel University's men's basketball squad, still exceptionally injured, fell 66-52 to SJU. Missing two starters to foot injuries the Royals managed to convert 15-of-17 attempts from the free throw line, however, only mustered 35 percent shooting from the floor.
Throughout the first half the two teams interchanged the lead eight times and held a tie another six. To start the game neither team held a manageable lead of more than two points until the 11:20 point, when Saint John's led 12-8. Bethel quickly managed to cut into the four-point deficit, going ahead of the hosting Johnnies 13-12. Play continued to be knotted up until there was four minutes to play in the period when SJU stretch a two-point lead to four, and eventually to six before the end of the half. Kellan Dahlquist (Sr., St. Cloud, Minn.) finished a layup in the paint with six seconds remaining that narrowed the Johnnies lead to 30-26 at the half.
At the break seven players had contributed to the Royals total, including Dahlquist and Quinn Gorski (So., Batavia, Ill.) who each tallied six first-half points. Dahlquist also ripped down five boards to go along with his six-point effort. The Royals could not hang with the Johnnies in the paint, however, as SJU outscored BU 16-8 down low throughout the initial 20 minutes.
Bethel closed the gap to two points within the first 20 seconds of play in the second period, but from there Saint John's rallied around a 9-4 run that put the home team ahead to stay, 39-32. Despite a strong BU effort and great hustle the Johnnies continued to pour on the points and heightened its lead to 16 with 5:28 remaining on a pair of SJU free-throws. Bethel narrowed the margin to 10 with just under two minutes to play, yet it was not enough as Saint John's poured in another four points to seal the victory at 66-52.
In the second half BU matched Saint John's in points in the paint but allowed too many second chance points for the hosting Johnnies. Kyle Zimmerman (So., Champlin, Minn.) helped the Royals stay in the matchup with eight second-half points alongside three boards, but SJU proved to be too much in Wednesday night's contest.
The Royals finished with 14 points in the paint and converted 10 points off of turnovers, but the key factor in the MIAC competition was the rebounding disadvantage. The Johnnies outrebounded the Royals 34-23, which led to a 15-6 advantage in second-chance points. Several players put forth a great effort in the head-to-head battle including Dahlquist who finished with 11 and seven, along with Zimmerman, who ended the game with 11 points and six boards. JD Robinson (Jr., Plymouth, Minn.) added seven points and five rebounds.
Bethel University looks to bounce back Saturday when welcoming St. Olaf to the Robertson Center Gym for a 3 p.m. affair. The Oles are 4-2 in the MIAC, and are currently 5-6 overall this season.
