Northfield, Minn. -- Zach Johnson (Fy./Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview) scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds and Dan Forkrud (Sr./Rosemount, Minn.) added 14 points, nine rebounds and three steals as the Carleton College men's basketball team held St. Olaf College to 16 second-half points in completing the season sweep of the Oles, 60-43.
The win, Carleton's 14th straight, allowed it to tie the school record for wins a season with 18. The 14 consecutive wins is second-longest streak in school history, one away from matching the 1915-16 squad for most consecutive wins in a single season. The 18 wins ties three teams (1951-52, 1952-53 and 1992-93) for most overall wins in a season.
Carleton clinches a top-two MIAC finish with the victory and will host a MIAC Playoff semifinal game on Thursday, Feb. 23. The Knights, with wins over St. Mary's and Bethel next week, could do no worse than clinching a tie for the MIAC regular-season title, which would be their first conference crown in 41 seasons.
The Oles (9-15, 7-12 MIAC) were paced by Jon Butala's 10 points and seven rebounds.
The Knights (18-5, 15-3 MIAC) beat the Oles for the 25th time in the last 32 meetings and 17th time in the last 21 meetings by shooting 49 percent from the floor and owning a 27-7 spread in points off turnovers. The Knights used a quick 9-2 spurt at the end of the first half, fueled by consecutive Johnson baskets, to lead 34-27 at the break.
The Knights broke the game open in the second half, limiting the Oles to only five field goals in the final 20 minutes and stretching the lead to as many as 20 points. After the Oles climbed within three on a Butala triple, the Knights ripped off a 17-2 spurt as they held the visitors without a field goal for more than 11 minutes. Johnson had a three-point play and turnaround jumper to start the spree, which was capped by three-pointers from Jake Phillips (Jr./Brainerd, Minn.) and Mike Kootsikas (Jr./Rosemount, Minn.).
The Knights return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 15, hosting St. Mary’s at 8 p.m. as part of a women’s/men’s doubleheader. The Oles, who were officially eliminated from the MIAC Playoff race with the loss, play at St. Mary’s on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 3:15 p.m. to conclude their 2005-06 season.
