Notables
-First time CSS has played a defending NCAA National Champion
-UST ranked No. 10 in D3hoops.com poll
-UST did not attempt a free throw in the first half, CSS attempted 20 more than UST for the game
-Points in the Paint: UST-34, CSS-20
-Bench Points: UST-40, CSS-23
ST. PAUL (
csssaints.com) – The defending NCAA Division III National Champion University of St. Thomas outscored the St. Scholastica men's basketball team 46-31 in the second half en route to an 83-65 victory on Tuesday night.
Tight First Half
The Tommies opened up an early four-point lead, but the Saints answered with a 7-0 run capped by a
Collin Anderson (Eagan, Minn./Eagan HS) 3-pointer to give CSS a 12-9 lead five minutes in. A little later former Tommie,
Kory Deadrick (Esko, Minn./Esko HS), drained another 3-pointer to make it a four-point St. Scholastica advantage.
St. Thomas regained the lead with a 7-0 run, but the Saints battled to take it back. The first half featured six ties and six lead changes. The Tommies connected on a 3-pointer with over minute left in the half to take a 37-34 edge into the locker room.
Nate Weets (Cloquet, Minn./Cloquet HS) had eight points to pace the Saints in the first half. CSS was 10-for-11 from the free throw line in the half, while St. Thomas did not attempt a single free throw.
Second Half Gets Away
Brandon Newman (Barnum, Minn./Barnum HS) opened the second half with a bucket to pull the Saints within one. However, St. Thomas was able to maintain a single-digit lead for the first portion of the half.
After a pair of Weets free throws cut the margin to six with less than nine minutes remaining, the Tommies went on a 15-0 run to put the Saints away. St. Thomas led by as much as 22 before winning by a final of 83-65.
Top Performances for CSS
Newman led the Saints with 17 points. Weets contributed 16 off the bench. Anderson added 11 points. Deadrick led the Saints with six rebounds. CSS shot only 28 percent in the second half to finish at 34 percent for the game.
Top Performances for the Opponent
Grant Shaeffer led St. Thomas with 20 points. Michael Hannon added 16 points and Connor Bair 14 points, both off the bench. The Tommies shot 51 percent for the game and made 10, 3-point field goals.
Up Next
The Saints (1-2) will have their home opener on Saturday when they face Concordia College-Moorhead at the Reif Gymnasium. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the action can be seen live on Saints Sports Net.
