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Saint John’s Basketball Falls to Hardin-Simmons in Leslie Robinson Classic
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The Saint John’s University basketball team concluded competition at Trinity University’s Leslie Robinson Classic with an 81-71 defeat at the hands of Hardin-Simmons University (Texas) on Sunday, December 21st. Despite a strong individual performance from senior guard Kyle Johnson, the Johnnies struggled from beyond the arc and ultimately succumbed to a dominant shooting display from their opponents.
Second-Half Struggles Seal Loss for Johnnies
Saint John’s (4-7, 1-2 MIAC) faced a challenging shooting night, converting just 6 of 27 attempts from three-point range – a mere 22.2 percent. Free-throw shooting also proved problematic, with the team finishing 13-for-23 (56.5 percent) from the line, including a disappointing 8-for-17 in the second half. Despite a late surge fueled by Johnson’s scoring, the Johnnies were unable to overcome the deficit.
Johnson Shines in Defeat
Kyle Johnson led all scorers with a career-high 25 points, adding five rebounds and three assists to his impressive stat line. Freshman guard Henry Tschetter and sophomore guard Jamison Lien provided valuable support, each contributing 14 points and seven rebounds. Tschetter also showcased his defensive prowess, recording a career-high four steals.
Game Recap: A Tale of Two Halves
Saint John’s started strong, building a five-point lead (18-13) with 12:26 remaining in the first half. However, a swift 11-0 run by Hardin-Simmons shifted the momentum, leaving the Johnnies scoreless for nearly five minutes. The Cowboys continued their offensive push in the second half, establishing an eight-point advantage (48-35) early on.
The Johnnies responded with a determined 13-0 run, tying the game at 48-48. A back-and-forth exchange followed, but Hardin-Simmons regained control with a 10-2 run. Johnson’s five consecutive points and a free throw from junior post Vincent hillesheim narrowed the gap to two points (58-56) with 8:06 left. Though, the Cowboys answered with a series of successful shots and free throws, extending their lead and ultimately securing the victory.
Hardin-Simmons Dominates from the Field
Hardin-Simmons (8-6 overall) showcased remarkable shooting efficiency, connecting on 55.6 percent of their field goal attempts (30-for-54), including an impressive 65 percent from inside the arc (26-for-40). They also excelled at the free-throw line, shooting 81 percent (17-for-21). Despite Saint John’s holding a slight 34-33 edge in rebounds (15-8 on the offensive glass), Hardin-Simmons capitalized on 13 Johnnies turnovers, scoring 18 points consequently.
Leading the charge for the Cowboys were forwards Chris Bryant and Asher Fleming, who both finished with 20 points
