COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's made each of its final six free throws and sophomore Seth Marx (Maple Grove, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's) drilled a three-pointer with 23 seconds remaining as the host Johnnies upset No. 13 St. Thomas 68-66 on Monday, Jan. 2, in Collegeville.
 
A pair of free throws from UST's Peter Leslie gave the visitors a one-point lead, 66-65, with 33 seconds left. Senior Andy Burns (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) directed the SJU offense, which looked as if it was going to settle for the final shot, drove to the free-throw line and kicked out a pass to a wide-open Marx for the game-winning trey.
 
Zach Riedeman's driving shot at the buzzer rattled out for UST (7-3, 4-1 MIAC). The contest endured nine lead changes from the 2:38 mark of the second half to Marx's three-pointer.
 
SJU (6-3, 2-2 MIAC) kept the game close (31-27), thanks to a 10-for-11 showing at the free-throw line, despite shooting 32.0 percent (8-for-25) from the field in the first half. The Tommies, on the other hand, shot at a 47.8-percent clip (11-for-23), including a six of nine from three-point range, in the game's first 20 minutes.
 
The Johnnies started the second half with a 6-0 run to regain the lead and extended it to as much as seven (48-41) with 11:41 left. The Tommies bounced back with a 17-7 run before both teams exchanged layups and four free throws. A drive to the lane from senior Aaron Barmore (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) gave SJU a slim 65-64 lead with 42 seconds remaining before Leslie's pair of free throws. SJU ended the game 21 of 25 (84.0 percent) from the charity stripe.
 
The second half proved to be a reversal of fortunes as the Tommies shot just 39.1 percent (9-for-23) from the field and 1-for-6 from three-point land. SJU, meanwhile, shot 56.5 percent (13-for-23) in the second half and four of nine from beyond the arc.
 
Marx led the Johnnies with 15 points and eight rebounds, while Barmore and Burns added 14 and 12 points, respectively. Both senior captains collected five assists each.
 
Noah Kaiser, a junior transfer from SJU, led UST with 14 points. Juniors Will DeBerg and John Nance added 12 and 11 points, respectively.
 
With the win, head coach Jim Smith improves to 733-513 (.588) in 48 seasons at SJU.
 
The Johnnies play host to Bethel for a 7:30 p.m. game this Wednesday, Jan. 4, in Collegeville.
 
Notes: The SJU win snaps a 10-game losing streak to St. Thomas…the last win for the Johnnies against UST was Jan. 17, 2007 (64-59)…the Tommies were ranked third nationally in that meeting…SJU is now 4-0 at home this season, including wins over two nationally-ranked opponents (60-55 win over then-No. 24 Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Nov. 22.