NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Carleton College men's basketball team saw its six-game win streak halted as the Knights dropped a 65-50 result to visiting Saint John's University. Both teams posted their lowest scoring output in conference play this season.
 
The first ended with Carleton (12-4, 9-3 MIAC) holding a 23-18 lead, a surprising result given that these teams ranked 1-2 among MIAC squads in team field-goal percentage entering the day. The 23 points match the Knights' season low for the first half, while the 18 points for Saint John's (14-3, 11-1 MIAC) was its fewest in a first half since Dec. 14, 2013.
 
The Knights shot 37 percent in the opening period but were only 2-of-13 (15 percent) from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, the Johnnies shot 32 percent in the first half and was 1-of-9 (11 percent) from long range.
 
The visitors, who own the highest team field-goal percentage in the MIAC this season (51.0 percent), eventually found their groove and shot 64 percent in the second half, including 58 percent (7-of-12) from 3-point range. That boost in efficiency allowed Saint John's to out-score Carleton by a 47-27 margin over the final 20 minutes.
 
Trailing 30-28 with 14:30 remaining, the Johnnies put together a 10-0 run over the next four minutes and maintained at least a six-point advantage the rest of the way.
 
Alex Gibbens (So./New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan) paced Carleton with 12 points, and Luke Harris (Fy./Piedmont, Calif./Piedmont) chipped in 11 points. The Knights shot 41 percent on the day and finished with a season-low 50 points against the stingiest defense in the MIAC.
 
Saint John's guard Kooper Vaughn tallied 16 of his game-high 19 points in the second half. Zach Hanson was the other Johnnie in double figures, finishing with 13 points to go along with five rebounds, and three blocked shots.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton is scheduled to host MIAC-leading Augsburg University at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 29.