Tommie Sports - Men's Basketball

Men's Hoops pulls out win, gets MIAC title share

W, 58-55
Carleton (M), February 06, 2010

Tyler Nicolai had eight second-half points. (Greg Smith photo)

Junior guard Alex Healy had 13 points and the No. 5-ranked Tommies ran their winning streak to eight with Saturday's 58-55 comeback men's basketball victory over Carleton at CU's Gangelhoff Center.

The UST win and Gustavus' loss at Hamline let Coach Steve Fritz' Tommies (19-2 overall, 15-1 MIAC) secure a share of their fifth consecutive conference championship with four games to go. St. Thomas has won 53 consecutive conference home games.

Senior guard Jeremy Sutherland had 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists for Carleton (13-9, 9-8), which scored just 21 second-half points and had a six-game winning streak halted.

The Knights went 0-for-5 at the foul line in the last 15 seconds and converted just 9-of-24 free throw tries on the game.

St. Thomas' Tyler Nicolai made two free throws with three seconds left to give UST a three-point lead. Nicolai scored eight of his 10 points in the second half.

Teddy Archer scored nine points including 1-of-2 free throws with 1:48 left that put the Tommies ahead 56-55.

UST had just 10 turnovers and survived 12-of-19 shooting at the foul line and a 2-for-13 day from 3-point range.

The Knights built an 12-point first-half lead but the Toms scored the last six points of the first half to pull within 34-28 at halftime. Nicolai and Joe Scott were held to a combined two first-half points.

The Toms play three of their last four games on the road needing one win or one Gustavus loss to claim the outright championship. UST plays Wednesday at Bethel.

Click here for box score:

http://www.tommiesports.com/mbb/stats/2-6-mbb.htm

Click here to view more Greg Smith action photos:

www.gsmithsports.com

Action pic