COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - In a mid-season battle between teams tied atop the MIAC standings, Jeremy Beckler led all scorers and poured in a career-high 36 points as the Carleton College men's basketball team pulled out a 78-71 victory at Saint John's University.

"What a great performance from our team tonight, " said Carleton head coach Ryan Kershaw. "We knew the challenge we were facing in trying to beat an outstanding Saint John's team on their home floor, and our guys were up to the task. Jeremy was unbelievable. He carried us offensively in the first half and anchored our defense throughout the game. I thought we showed some great toughness down the stretch, and I am very happy for our players and coaching staff that we were able to earn such a hard-fought win."

The Knights (13-2, 8-2 MIAC) and Johnnies (10-5, 7-3 MIAC) entered play sharing first place in the conference standings, with both sides eager to knock the other off of that mantle and earn a temporary head-to-head tiebreaker.

Carleton, which entered play receiving votes in the D3hoops.com top-25 national poll, began the game hot at Sexton Arena, storming out to a 24-11 lead after Matt Wyffels converted an and-one free-throw with 11:15 to play in the period. Saint John's quelled the Knight tempest by outsourcing the visitors 26-14 over the remainder of the half, although the Knights took a slim 38-37 lead into halftime. Beckler had 16 points at intermission and was the only player on either side in double figures over the first 20 minutes.

Thanks to four-straight Johnnie turnovers to begin the second half, Carleton was able to score the first six points of the period and extend its lead to 44-37. The hosts clawed back on their home court and took their first lead of the game, 58-57, with 6:54 left to play. After Beckler and the Johnnies' Ryan Thissen exchanged scoring, a pair of Luke Harris free throws with 5:14 on the clock sparked a 9-0 run that pushed the Knights ahead to stay.

Beckler's 36 points set a career high for the senior and is tied for eighth-highest single-game mark in recorded team history and the most by a Knight since Zach Johnson '09 scored 36 against St. Olaf on Feb 2, 2009. Beckler's 14 field goals, also tied for eighth all time, are the most since Kent Hanson '20 made 14 buckets from the floor at Macalester on February 8, 2017. (see lists below)

Harris scored all nine of his points in the final 5:14 of play, while Chuck Sweat notched a trio of triples en route to nine points of his own.

As for the three-ball, Carleton shot 64.3 percent (9-of-14) from deep on the night, good for a season high and the fifth-best percentage in recorded team history. (see list below)

The victory was Carleton's first win in the last six meetings with the Johnnies, with the Knights' last triumph coming on Jan. 19, 2019 in Northfield. Carleton had not won in Collegeville since Jan. 25, 2016, a three-point overtime victory.

Thissen and Brandon Adelman led the way for the home team with 16 points apiece.

Most Points (single game) in Carleton history
1.   48 -- Tom Klimisch at Macalester; 2/8/95
2.   42 -- William Addington vs. St. Olaf; 1/15/52
3.   40 -- Gerrick Monroe vs. So. Cal College; 11/27/91
4.   39 -- Josh Wilhelm at Pomona; 11/28/98
5.   38 -- Ivan Grimm; 1960
5.   38 -- Mark Wandmacher; 1984
7.   37 -- Ronald Sanders; 1965
8.   36 -- Dave Heslam at Hawaii Loa College; 11/27/90
8.   36 -- Steven DeLapp; 1969
8.   36 -- Zach Johnson at Bethel; 2/28/06
8.   36 -- Zach Johnson vs. Saint Mary's; 2/9/08
8.   36 -- Zach Johnson at Macalester; 1/17/09
8.   36 -- Zach Johnson vs. St. Olaf; 2/2/09
8.   36 -- Jeremy Beckler at Saint John's; 1/16/23
 
Best 3-point FG percentage (min. 8 made)
1.   .727 -- vs. Saint John's; 2/19/03 (8-11)
2.   .688 -- vs. St. Scholastica; 12/12/09 (11-16)
3.   .650 -- at Hamline; 1/28/02 (13-20)
4.   .647 -- at Macalester; 2/17/10 (11-17)
5.   .643 -- at Saint Johns; 1/16/23 (9-14)
6.   .636 -- vs. Hamline; 12/7/13 (7-11)
7.   .615 -- at Concordia-Moorehad; 1/23/22 (16-26)
8.   .611 -- vs. Hamline; 2/12/03 (11-18)
9.   .600 -- at Augsburg; 1/30/06 (9-15)
9.   .600 -- vs. Concordia-Moorhead; 12/1/07 (9-15)