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 its 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 owned a 27-7 spread in points off turnovers. The Knights used a quick 9-2 spurt at the end of the first hjalf, fueld 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 and Mike Kootsikas.
St. Olaf College vs Carleton College 02/11/06 3:25 p.m. at Northfield, Minn. (West Gym) At Northfield, Minn. (West Gym) CARLETON COLLEGE 60, ST. OLAF COLLEGE 43 ST. OLAF COLLEGE (9-15, 7-12 MIAC) Jon Butala 3-8 2-6 10; Bobby Hunter 3-6 2-4 8; Jon Bain 3-8 1-2 7; Mark Bergstrom 3-9 1-1 7; Steve Banick 2-8 2-2 6; Chad Norberg 1-3 0-0 3; Matt Christensen 1-1 0-0 2; Jake Martinson 0-0 0-0 0; Mitch Haugen 0-3 0-0 0; Chris Clark 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 16-48 8-15 43. CARLETON COLLEGE (18-5, 15-3 MIAC) Zach Johnson 8-17 1-1 17; Dan Forkrud 6-10 1-4 14; Brian Sharkey 3-3 0-0 8; Jake Phillips 3-8 0-0 7; Mike Kootsikas 2-3 0-0 6; Tommy Drake 3-9 0-0 6; Jay Melson 1-3 0-0 2; Tucker Schieck 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-53 2-5 60. St. Olaf College.............. 27 16 - 43 Carleton College.............. 34 26 - 60 3-point goals-St. Olaf College 3-15 (Jon Butala 2-4; Chad Norberg 1-2; Mark Bergstrom 0-5; Steve Banick 0-3; Chris Clark 0-1), Carleton College 6-14 (Mike Kootsikas 2-2; Brian Sharkey 2-2; Jake Phillips 1-4; Dan Forkrud 1-2; Tommy Drake 0-1; Zach Johnson 0-3). Fouled out--St. Olaf College-Jon Bain, Carleton College-None. Rebounds-St. Olaf College 28 (Jon Butala 7), Carleton College 35 (Dan Forkrud 9). Assists-St. Olaf College 4 (Steve Banick 2), Carleton College 15 (Jake Phillips 4). Total fouls-St. Olaf College 13, Carleton College 12. A-1200 Carleton ties record for most wins in a season (18)... Carleton wins 14th straight game overall, 15th in MIAC play... Knights clinch top-two finish in MIAC and first-round bye in MIAC Playoffs.