NORTHFIELD, Minn. - Riley Aeikens had a team-best 15 points, including a game-clinching free throw with 6.9 seconds left as No. 21 St. Olaf squeaked past visiting Saint John's University 71-67 on Wednesday night at Skoglund Center.

Sterling Nielsen added 14 points while Justin Pahl and Ben Figini had 11 each for the Oles (16-3, 11-3 MIAC) in the win. 

Mitchell Kuck had 19 points and Joe Risinger 15 points for SJU (10-8, 8-5 MIAC). The Johnnies had two chances to tie in the final 30 seconds, but a pair of three-point misses and St. Olaf rebounds clinched the Ole victory. 

St. Olaf, which led 36-30 at the half, shot 50 percent from the field and was 6-of-15 from the arc. Three-pointers by Pahl and Aeikens in the final three minutes gave the Oles breathing room down the stretch. 

The Oles, who lead the nation in assist-turnover ratio, had 16 assists against nine turnovers. The Johnnies had only eight giveaways, with 14 assists.

St. Olaf will travel to St. Peter on Saturday for a 3 p.m. game with Gustavus Adolphus College.