Box Score
CHICAGO, Ill. – No. 7 Saint John’s overcame a nine-point deficit in the second half to edge the University of Chicago 72-71 in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Tournament on Friday, March 7.
SJU (25-3 overall) advances to face No. 9 Illinois Wesleyan (23-5 overall), which defeated Bethany Lutheran 101-67 in the regional’s first game, at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 8, for a trip to the NCAA’s Sweet 16.
Maroons senior Thomas Kurowski was driving for a layup to give his team the win at the horn, but senior wing Griffin Rushin (Baxter, Minn./Brainerd) blocked his shot as time expired to seal the victory for SJU, which led for only 3:21 of game clock.
A layup from senor wing Ryan Thissen (Rosemount, Minn./Eastview) capped a 7-2 run and gave SJU its first lead of the game – 59-58 – with 8:52 remaining in regulation. The lead did not return for the Johnnies, however, until senior guard Blake Berg (West Fargo, N.D./Sheyenne) drained a pair of free throws with 2:37 on the clock.
SJU capitalized on a turnover with an easy layup from senior post Connor Schwob (Waconia, Minn.) for a 70-67 advantage. Chicago’s Eamonn Kenah answered on the other end but missed his free throw for a potential three-point play with 1:37 left. The Maroons (18-8 overall) finished 11-for-20 (55 percent) to the Johnnies’ 12-for-15 (80 percent) at the charity stripe.
Senior guard Zach Longueville (Eagan, Minn./St. Croix Lutheran) drove the lane for a layup and a three-point lead once again, but Kenah drained a turnaround shot with 46 seconds on the clock. UC’s Daniel Cochran blocked another layup attempt from Longueville, but Schwob tied up the Chicago rebounder and the possession arrow went to SJU with 17.1 seconds left (one second on the shot clock). Thissen’s inbounds pass for the tip-in shot was intercepted, leading to Chicago’s potential game-winning possession.
Thissen led the Johnnies with 15 points, while Longueville and senior guard Luke Healy (Hudson, Wis.) followed with 13 points apiece. SJU shot 54.2 percent (13-for-24) in the second half to finish at 52.8 percent (28-for-53) for the game and out-rebounded UC by a 29-23 margin.
The Maroons shot a blistering 59.3 percent (16-for-27) from the field in the first half, including a 7-for-13 (53.8 percent) performance from three-point range, to take a 42-37 lead into halftime. The home team led by as much as 10 on two occasions. SJU battled back to tie the game thanks to a 7-0 run, but UC scored the half’s final five points.
UC went 3-for-10 from behind the three-point arc and shot 40.9 percent (9-for-22) from the floor in the second half. Kurowski led five Maroons in double figures with 20 points.
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