COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Playing without two starters due to injury, the Carleton College men's basketball team was unable to keep pace with Saint John's University, falling 80-51 in MIAC action. Luke Harris (Fy./Piedmont, Calif./Piedmont) had a game-high 18 points to lead the Knights, while Jeremy Beckler (Jr./Lino Lakes, Minn./White Bear Lake) chipped in 13 more.
 
Carleton (6-3, 3-2 MIAC) shot a season-low 39 percent overall, including a 2-for-13 showing (15 percent) from 3-point range.
 
Meanwhile, Saint John's (9-2, 6-0 MIAC) won its seventh consecutive game and moved into a tie with Augsburg University atop the conference standings. The Johnnies shot 61 percent both inside and outside the arc, with five players finishing in double figures, paced by Jared Rainey's 15-point effort that included going 5-for-5 overall and 3-for-3 from long range.
 
Saint John's never trailed, opening the game on a 13-2. Carleton twice clawed back from double-digit deficits to pull within three points, the last time coming at 31-28 with 2:37 left in the first half. The Johnnies closed the opening period with a 10-2 run and maintained a double-digit lead throughout the second half.
 
Carleton forward Matt Banovetz (So./Edina, Minn./Academy of Holy Angels) was busy on the boards, pulling down a game-high 10 rebounds to go along with two blocks, two steals, and an assist. Beck Page (Jr./Longmont, Colo./Longmont) and Matt Wyffels (Jr./Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) chipped in five points apiece, while Brad Lee (Jr./La Canada Flintridge, Calif./Maranatha) came off the bench to contribute four points and four assists in his 10 minutes of play.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton closes out the pre-holiday portion of its schedule with a 2:00 p.m. matinee at Aurora University on Thursday, Dec. 16. The Knights will open 2022 with a Jan. 5 home game against Macalester College.