COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – In a mid-season battle between teams tied for the top of the MIAC standings, jeremy becker (Sr./Lino Lakes, Minn./White Bear Lake) led all scorers and scored a career-high 36 points as the Carleton College men’s basketball team posted a 78-71 victory at the University of Saint John.
“What a great performance from our team tonight,” the Carleton head coach said. ryan kershaw. “We knew the challenge we faced in trying to beat a standout Saint John team on their home court, and our guys were up to the task. Jeremy was amazing. He led us on offense in the first half and anchored our defense throughout the game. I think we showed great toughness down the stretch, and I’m very happy for our players and the coaching staff that we were able to get such a close win.”
The Knights (13-2, 8-2 MIAC) and Johnnies (10-5, 7-3 MIAC) came into play sharing first place in the conference standings, with both sides eager to shake the other out of that mantle and win a temporary position. head to head tiebreaker.
Carleton, who entered the game receiving votes in D3hoops.com’s national top 25 poll, began the game at Sexton Arena, leading 24-11 after matt wyffels (Mr./Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) made a free throw and one with 11:15 left in the period. Saint John’s quelled the Knights’ tempest by outscoring the visitors 26-14 for the remainder of the half, though the Knights took a slim 38-37 halftime lead. Beckler scored 16 points at halftime and was the only player from either side in double figures through the first 20 minutes.
Thanks to four consecutive turnovers by Johnnie early in the second half, Carleton was able to score the first six points of the period and extend their lead to 44-37. The hosts reclaimed their home court and took their first lead of the game, 58-57, with 6:54 to play. After Beckler and the Johnnies’ Ryan Thissen traded points, a couple of luke harris (So./Piedmont, Calif./Piedmont) Free throws with 5:14 left sparked a 9-0 run that pushed the Knights to stay.
Beckler’s 36 points set a career-high for the senior and is tied for the eighth-most in a single game in recorded team history and the most by a Knight since Zach Johnson ’09 scored 36 against St. Olaf on February 2, 2009. Beckler’s 14 shots from the field, also tied for eighth all-time, are the most since Kent Hanson ’20 made 14 baskets from the floor at Macalester on February 8, 2009. 2017. (see lists below)
Harris scored his nine points in the final 5:14 of the game, while chuck sweat (Jr./Glencoe, Ill./New Trier) hit a trio of 3-pointers en route to nine points of his own.
As for the three-ball, Carleton shot 64.3 percent (9-for-14) from deep into the night, a good season high and the fifth-best percentage recorded in team history. (see list below)
The win was Carleton’s first win in the last six meetings with the Johnnies, with the Knights’ last win coming on Jan. 19, 2019, at Northfield. Carleton hadn’t won at Collegeville since a Jan. 25, 2016, three-point overtime win.
Thissen and Brandon Adelman led the way for the home team with 16 points each.
Up next for the Knights
Carleton remains on the road for his next test, an appointment with Hamline University. Kickoff between the Knights and the Pipers is scheduled for Wednesday, January 18 at 7:00 pm in Saint Paul.
Most points (single game) in Carleton history
1.48 — Tom Klimisch at Macalester; 8/2/95
2. 42 — William Addington vs. St. Olaf; 01/15/52
3. 40 — Gerrick Monroe vs. So. Cal University; 11/27/91
4.39 — Josh Wilhelm in 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; 02/28/06
8. 36 — Zach Johnson vs. Saint Mary’s; 9/2/08
8. 36 — Zach Johnson at Macalester; 01/17/09
8. 36 — Zach Johnson vs. St. Olaf; 2/2/09
8. 36 — jeremy becker In San Juan; 01/16/23
Best percentage of 3 FG points (min. 8 hit)
1. .727 — against San Juan; 2/19/03 (8-11)
2. .688 — against Santa Escolástica; 12/12/09 (11-16)
3,650 — in Hamline; 1/28/02 (13-20)
4. .647 — at Macalester; 2/17/10 (11-17)
5. .643 — in St. Johns; 1/16/23 (9-14)
6. .636 — vs. Hamline; 7/12/13 (7-11)
7. .615 — at Concordia-Moorehad; 1/23/22 (16-26)
8. .611 — vs. Hamline; 12/2/03 (11-18)
9,600 — in Augsburg; 1/30/06 (9-15)
9. .600 — against Concordia-Moorhead; 12/1/07 (9-15)