Men's Basketball 12/11/02 -- St. John's 66, Augsburg 60 

BOXSCORE

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. (12/11/02) -- Kevin Buth scored a career-high 27 points, as his St. John's University men's basketball team rallied from a six-point deficit in the final 5:25, claiming a 66-60 win over visiting Augsburg College in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's basketball game Wednesday night at SJU's Sexton Arena.

For the second straight game, Augsburg gave up a game-deciding scoring run in the closing minutes. Leading 57-51 with 5:25 left, Augsburg was outscored 15-3 down the stretch. Buth had eight points -- hitting 4-of-4 free throws -- and two rebounds in the closing stretch.

Meanwhile, after two straight dunks by Marcus Gholson (Jr., Gary, Ind./William A. Wirt HS), Augsburg managed just one field goal and a free throw the rest of the way. Augsburg turned the ball over twice, committed six fouls and missed five field goals and two free throws in the final 5:25.

St. John's is now 4-2 overall and 3-1 in MIAC play. Augsburg drops to 3-5 overall and 0-4 in MIAC play, dropping its fourth straight game.

Augsburg led 30-28 at halftime, and pulled ahead by as many as seven points in the second half. The game featured six ties and 14 lead changes.

In addition to his 27 points, Buth had four 3-pointers, five rebounds, four assists and two steals. Pat McKenzie had 11 points, six steals and three assists, and Shawn McGuire had 12 points. Ryan Bigalke had six points and five rebounds, and Paul Henrichs had six rebounds.

Augsburg was paced by Yarzue Slowon (So., Crystal, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS), who scored 19 points, hitting four 3-pointers. He had five assists and two steals. Gholson had 16 points, three steals and six rebounds, while Casey Zilka (Jr., Eden Prairie, Minn.) had 14 points off the bench.

Augsburg's leading scorers were held in check by the Johnnies. Jay Howard * (Sr., Burnsville, Minn.) had seven points and four rebounds, and Adam Kotewa (Sr., North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West HS) had just two points in 17 minutes of play.

St. John's hosts Division II St. Cloud State on Saturday (12/14) at 7:30 p.m. Augsburg has an extended break before hosting Division II Augustana (S.D.) on Monday, Dec. 30 at 7:30 p.m. at Si Melby Hall.