The Gusties got off to a quick start and looked like they might blow the Johnnies out when they held a 20-6 lead with 7:16 left in the first half. Saint John's countered with a 13-0 run over the next three minutes and trailed 20-19 at the 3:40 mark. Sophomore guard Chad Ohme sparked the Johnnie comeback with three consecutive three-point baskets. A jumper by Adam TeBrake with :37 on the clock gave the Gusties a three-point lead (25-22), however Ohme banked in a 30-foot trey at the buzzer and the game was tied 25-25 at the intermission.
The game remained tight throughout the early part of the second half with the lead changing hands five different times. A jumper by the Johnnies Nicholas Pariseau gave Saint John's a one-point lead 34-33 with 14:43 remaining, however that would be the last lead the Johnnies would hold in the contest. With the score tied 38-38 at the 10:32 mark, the Gusties went on a 6-0 run that was punctuated by a Doug Espenson dunk to make the score 44-38. The Johnnies bounced back again and a free throw by Matt Ohme with 4:37 left cut the Gustavus lead to two at 48-46.
Gustavus responded yet again to a Saint John's rally as sophomore Andrew Olson knocked down two consecutive three-point baskets to push the Gustie lead back to eight at 54-46 with 3:22 remaining. Olson's treys proved to be the difference as Saint John's would get no closer than four points at 56-52 with 1:49 on the clock. Gustavus hit 8-of-10 free throws in the final minute of the game which allowed them to claim the 65-58 victory.
Doug Espenson became the 28th player in Gustavus men's basketball history to reach the 1,000 point plateau in the second half. Espenson scored his 1000 and 1001st point on a layup with 4:35 to play that gave Gustavus a 48-45 lead. He led Gustavus in scoring with 22 points. Adam TeBrake was the only other Gustie in double figures with 19 points.