Johnnies avenge early season loss against Oles

The St. John’s basketball team won against St. Olaf on Saturday, Jan. 28, avenging a loss from early in the season. The game was a close 69-66, with junior wing Ryan Thissen scoring a step-back jumper with 13 seconds left to secure the win. Sexton Arena was filled with Johnnie basketball fans wearing white to show their support.

“The game really was a test for us on who we are, and I think we responded great to it. It shows us and everyone else that we are still in the hunt for a championship,” sophomore guard Andrew Wagner said.

The Johnnies played again on Monday, Jan. 30, against Concordia in Moorhead. They lost 81-76, making their overall record for the season now 12-7, and 9-5 in the MIAC.

“I think the season has been a little bit of a roller coaster at times with some rough losses, but also some really good wins,” Wagner said.

Despite the fluctuation of the season, the team is focused on consistency going forward.

“We’ve been up and down this year, so we are really working on trying to stay consistent. If we can find a way to do that, we will finish the year on a high note,” Thissen said.

According to head coach Pat McKenzie, Thissen has been a versatile player this season and plays multiple positions for the team. He currently leads the team in scoring, is second in assists and third in rebounding. Thissen is focusing on one game at a time heading into the rest of the season, saying that he is always excited for the next game and makes sure to focus on one game at a time. Thissen led all scorers on Jan. 28, with a career-high 27 points. Other standout players this season include senior post Mitchell Plombon, senior post Carson Schoeller and sophomore guard Zach Longueville.

The Johnnies have many more games leading up to the MIAC tournament, including Gustavus Adolphus, Hamline and Carleton in the next few weeks. Wagner is especially excited to play Hamline at home and Carleton down in Northfield. On Wednesday, Feb. 1, in Sexton Arena, the Johnnies face Gustavus Adolphus for the second time this season.

“All of our remaining games are very important. We have a great shot of winning the MIAC regular season championship if we play to our strengths and finish the season out strong,” junior wing Connor Shwob said.

The MIAC tournament starts on Feb. 21 with the championship game taking place on the 25th. The Johnnies are excited to show what they can do.

“I am excited for the MIAC tournament, and I think we will be playing our best basketball when the tournament starts,” Longueville said.