Box Score | Listen to Archived Game | Photos (Brace Hemmelgarn)

Post-Game Interviews:
-Head coach Jim Smith (2:06)
-Senior Sam Blank (0:24)

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Four Johnnies scored in double figures as host Saint John's opened its 2010-11 season with a 70-65 upset of No. 8 (Division II) St. Cloud State on Monday, Nov. 15. The win is the first for SJU at home against the Huskies since Nov. 30, 1983 (a span of six meetings in Collegeville).

Senior Sam Blank (Rollingstone, Minn./Winona), the reigning MIAC Sixth Man of the Year, led the Johnnies with 18 points, including 12 in the first half. Junior Aaron Barmore (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) added 14, 12 of which came in the second half. Seniors Nermin Hujdurovic (Tuzla, Bosnia/Medical) and Chris Schwartz (Sioux Falls, S.D./Lincoln) added 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Senior Aaron Burtzel (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori) collected eight points, 14 rebounds and five assists.

SCSU's Brett Putz led all scorers with 20 points, while Taylor Witt added 13 on a 5-for-18 night from the floor. The Huskies were ranked eighth in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II Preseason poll.

SJU built a 30-23 lead at the half thanks to 11 points off eight SCSU turnovers. The Huskies shot 34.8 percent from the field in the first half, including 0-for-7 from behind the arc.
 
The visitors cut the deficit to four with 3:48 left, but Hujdurovic made six straight free throws and Blank added two of his own to increase the SJU lead to 63-51 with 1:30 remaining. A free throw and layup cut it back to nine, but the Johnnies went seven of 10 from the charity stripe in the game's final minute to seal the victory.

The Johnnies ended the contest 20-for-29 from the free-throw line, including a 17-for-24 mark in the second half.

The victory is the series' first for SJU since Dec. 10, 2005 (72-67 at St. Cloud State). The two teams did not face each other for 12 seasons from 1987-98. The Huskies entered tonight's contest having won 11 of the last 13 meetings, including a 78-71 overtime win last season.

With the win, head coach Jim Smith improves to 714-499 in 47 seasons at SJU, including a 13-8 record at home against SCSU (21-24 overall).

The schedule doesn't get easier for SJU, as the Johnnies travel to face defending NCAA Division III champions, No. 1 Wisconsin-Stevens Point, this Saturday, Nov. 20. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. in Stevens Point, Wis.