GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The ninth-ranked Calvin University men's basketball team scored a win over 12th-ranked Saint John's University (Minn.) 71-67 on Saturday night to close the two-day Great Lakes Invitational at Van Noord Arena.
 
Calvin (1-5) took down unbeaten SJU (4-1) for its first win of the season and its first win in four tries against ranked opponents in the non-conference schedule.
 
The Johnnies were in control throughout the first half, holding the Knights to 25.9 percent shooting from the field (including 2-11 from beyond the three-point arc) and took a 32-24 lead into halftime.
 
The Knights came out of the halftime locker room aggressively and looked to drive the ball, forcing SJU into early foul trouble and getting opportunities at the free throw line to cut into the deficit.
 
Still trailing 45-38 at the under-12-minute media timeout, Calvin made its big push with a 12-0 run over the next three minutes to take a five-point lead. Owen Varnado (Muskegon, Mich./Western Michigan Christian) started the run with a lay-up, and then closed it with a three-pointer that put the Knights ahead 50-45.
 
The Johnnies kept their deficit to single digits the rest of the way, but the Knights never relinquished the lead again thanks to timely shots like Daane Harvey's (Ada, Mich./Forest Hills Eastern) corner three-pointer that pushed a three-point edge back up to six (57-51) with 5:51 remaining.
 
SJU was able to stay in the game late at the free throw line after getting fouled on a pair of three-point attempts in the final minute, but the Knights made their free throws when it counted most down the stretch to seal the win.
 
After getting into the bonus early in the second half, the Knights went 21-30 from the charity stripe in the second half and 29-40 for the game. After struggling in the first half, Calvin shot 45.8 percent from the field and went 4-7 from downtown in the second while holding the Johnnies to 31.0 percent from the floor and 2-15 from beyond the arc in the second half.
 
Calvin also did well taking care of the ball, committing only four miscues for the game.
 
Varnado led the Knights with 23 points and shot 5-9 from the field and 11-14 from the foul line. Uchenna Egekeze (Huntley, Ill./Huntley) added 14 points and three assists, while Trevin Winkle (McBain, Mich./Northern Michigan Christian) scored all 12 of his points in the second half.
 
The bench came through for the Knights, as Harvey, Parker Swartz (Grand Rapids, Mich./Northiew/Ohio Dominican) and Trip Riemersma (Holland, Mich./Zeeland East/Saginaw Valley State) combined for 13 points and played a critical role down the stretch on both ends.
 
COACH'S COMMENT: "We desperately needed a win," Calvin head men's basketball coach Bill Sall said. "It wasn't beautiful at all times, but I thought it was pretty gritty. That's a pretty good team to hold to 33 percent (shooting), and we've been preaching that we've got to be better defensively and I think these last two games we've been a better defensive team. That's really good to see. Owen had a great game and we had a lot of plays step up so we're super excited."
 
NEXT UP: Calvin men's basketball returns to action on Thursday, December 5, when it travels to UW-Oshkosh for a road contest scheduled to tip off at 7:00 PM CT.