Matt Ohme was 9-of-14 from the field, collecting a game-high 23 points, and Craig Schaffer added 20 points and seven rebounds for SJU.
St. Olaf, down 51-29 at the half and by as many as 29 in the second half, cut the lead to 12 with 5:25 left in regulation.
Bobby Hunter had a team-high 15 points and Jon Bain had 12 points in the loss for St. Olaf.
The Oles (1-1 MIAC, 3-2) host Macalester College at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Skoglund Center.
SAINT JOHN'S UNIVERSITY 86, ST. OLAF COLLEGE 69 ST. OLAF COLLEGE (3-2, 1-1 MIAC) Bobby Hunter 6-9 3-5 15; Jon Bain 5-9 2-3 12; Jon Butala 3-14 4-4 10; Steve Banick 5-11 0-0 10; Chad Norberg 2-5 3-4 8; Mark Bergstrom 3-5 0-0 6; Mitch Haugen 3-5 0-1 6; Robert McDonald 1-1 0-0 2; Chris Clark 0-1 0-0 0; Brady McMahon 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 28-63 12-17 69. SAINT JOHN'S UNIVERSITY (2-1, 1-1 MIAC) Matt Ohme 9-14 3-3 23; Craig Schafer 10-14 0-0 20; Ryan Lieser 5-12 3-4 14; Paul Henrichs 4-7 0-1 8; Jason Fogt 2-4 2-2 6; Scott Schafer 2-5 0-0 4; Brady Brink 2-5 0-0 4; Joe Conzemius 1-4 0-0 3; Andrew Spaanem 1-1 0-0 2; Kevin Markling 1-1 0-0 2; Jacob Kincaide 0-1 0-0 0; Nick Pariseau 0-1 0-0 0; Tim Veurink 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 37-72 8-10 86. St. Olaf College.............. 29 40 - 69 Saint John's University....... 51 35 - 86 3-point goals-St. Olaf College 1-9 (Chad Norberg 1-3; Jon Butala 0-5; Steve Banick 0-1), Saint John's University 4-12 (Matt Ohme 2-4; Ryan Lieser 1-5; Joe Conzemius 1-2; Tim Veurink 0-1). Fouled out--St. Olaf College-None, Saint John's University-None. Rebounds-St. Olaf College 36 (Bobby Hunter 7), Saint John's University 39 (Paul Henrichs 13). Assists-St. Olaf College 9 (Jon Butala 3), Saint John's University 17 (Brady Brink 4; Ryan Lieser 4). Total fouls-St. Olaf College 13, Saint John's University 16. A-287