Box Score

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Post-Game Interviews:
-Butcher, Meyer & Smith (1:55)

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's shot 65.6 percent (21-for-32) from the field in the second half to break a 32-32 halftime tie in an 88-58 non-conference win over Wisconsin-River Falls in the Johnnies' home opener on Tuesday, Nov. 26, in Collegeville.

The Johnnies (2-2, 0-0 MIAC), sparked by 11 points and five rebounds off the bench from senior Nick Meyer (Plymouth, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's), held on for a 32-32 tie at the half despite shooting 1-for-7 from three-point range.

The second half, however, belonged to senior Patrick Butcher (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier). Butcher tallied four points in the first half but scored 20 of his career-high 30 points in the first 8:42 after halftime. He made his first nine shots, including five three-pointers, in the second half and finished 11-for-13 from the field (6-for-7 from three-point range).

As a team, SJU started the second half with a 14-4 run and then put the game away with a 20-4 run during a 4:33 span in the middle of the half. The Johnnies made eight of their nine three-point attempts in the second half and out-rebounded the Falcons (1-3, 0-0 WIAC) 43-28 in the game.

Meyer ended the evening with 15 points and seven rebounds, while junior Jacob Peterson (Golden Valley, Minn./Hopkins) added career highs in both points (10) and rebounds (8). SJU's bench chipped in 40 of the team's 88 points on the night.

Senior Kevin McKenzie (De Pere, Wis./Notre Dame Academy) collected seven points and assists.

Ollie White led UWRF, which shot 28.6 percent (8-for-28) from the field in the second half, with 18 points and four rebounds. The visitors shot 21.1 percent (4-for-19) from behind the arc and 52.2 percent (12-for-23) from the free-throw line in the game.

With the win, head coach Jim Smith improves his career record to 757-537 in 50 seasons at SJU and is now two victories behind Ed Diddle (Western Kentucky, 1923-64) for 17th on college basketball's all-divisions win list.

The Johnnies return to action with their conference opener against Saint Mary's on Saturday, Dec. 7. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. at Sexton Arena in Collegeville.