MINNEAPOLIS -- The Augsburg University men's basketball team kept the game close throughout with No. 12-ranked Saint John's University, but an early run gave the Johnnies a lead they would never relinquish, in a 78-65 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference decision on Wednesday evening.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Saint John's 78, Augsburg 69
LOCATION: Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis
RECORDS: Augsburg 8-9 overall (4-4 MIAC), Saint John's 15-2 overall (8-0 MIAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Saint John's opened the game with a 12-0 run in the opening 4:36 of play, eventually extending the lead to 23-8 midway through the first half. The Auggies used a 15-2 run to cut the lead to 25-23 with 8:58 left in the period, but the Johnnies closed the half on a 24-8 run to take an 18-point lead at the break. Augsburg was able to cut the lead to single digits in the closing minutes, but could get no closer.
• Will Blascziek (SR, Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North HS) led the Auggies on Wednesday, scoring 18 points with five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a blocked shot.
• Ali Axmed (SO, Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North HS)scored 11 points with four rebounds, and Mario Adams (SO, Eagan, Minn./Eastview HS) scored 10 points with four rebounds and two blocked shots.
• Elias Batala (SO, Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview HS) scored nine points with three rebounds and two assists, Andy Stafford (SR, Hopkins, Minn./Hopkins HS) scored seven points with six rebounds, and Keenan Rodriguez (JR, Anoka, Minn./Anoka HS) scored seven points with three assists and three rebounds.
• Saint John's hit 50.0 percent (27-of-54) from the field, compared to 38.2 percent (28-of-68) for the Auggies. 

FOR THE FOES
• Ryan Thissen scored 29 points with 10 rebounds and four assists to lead Saint John's, ranked No. 12 in the latest D3hoops.com Division III national poll.
• Kyle Johnson scored 19 points, and Luke Budzyn scored 12 points with seven rebounds.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg travels to face Macalester College on Saturday (1/25) at 3 p.m. in St. Paul, Minn.