COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – First year forward Wyatt Ferm (Farmington, Minn./Farmington) scored 24 points as the Macalester men's basketball team narrowly lost to Saint John's University, 65-59 in a MIAC game on the road Wednesday night in Sexton Arena.  The Scots are now 3-17 overall and 1-14 in the conference, while the Johnnies improve to 15-5, 10-5 MIAC.

The first half remained close throughout, with four ties and five lead changes. Macalester held the largest lead of the half, 12-7, with Ferm and first year guard Michael Gutierrez (Stillwater, Minn./St. Croix Prep Academy) hitting threes in the game's first five minutes. With the score tied at 28-28 with three minutes on the clock, Gutierrez answered a basket by Alex Schmitt with a three-pointer for a 31-30 Scots lead. Saint John's responded with a layup by Joe Risinger to give the Johnnies a 32-31 halftime advantage. Ferm scored 14 points and Gutierrez was a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc in the first half.

Saint John's took control of the game by scoring the first five points of the second half for a 37-31 edge. The hosts maintained the upper hand, leading by as many as seven points. With the Johnnies up 55-48 with six minutes left, baskets by Ferm and junior center Kareem Ismail (Pasadena, Calif./Flintridge Prep), and a three from Gutierrez knotted the score at 55-55 with 2:23 remaining. Saint John's responded with six straight points, but Gutierrez and Ferm each hit a pair of free throws to pull the Scots to within two, 61-59 with 25 seconds left. That's as close as Macalester would get, as the Johnnies hit their free throws down the stretch to wrap up the win.

Ferm was 10-of-20 from the field to finish with a game-high 24 points to go with nine rebounds and three assists. Gutierrez scored 18 points and made four threes, while Ismail contributed eight points, seven boards and three blocks. Junior guard Jordan Black-Matthews (Dallas, Tex./Covenant Christian) matched Ferm with nine rebounds to go with six points and two assists. Risinger led the Johnnies with 15 points.

Macalester hosts MIAC foe Bethel University on Saturday, Feb. 6, beginning at 1:00 p.m. in the Leonard Center.