University of St. Thomas Athletics
Saint John's
Toms claim MIAC championship
2/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
No. 8-ranked St. Thomas received 59 points and 27 rebounds from seniors Mike Keating, Isaac Rosefelt and Bryan Schnettler and the host Tommies scored a 74-59 victory over St. John's to claim the MIAC men's basketball championship before a sellout crowd of 1,850 in Schoenecker Arena.
The Tommies (22-3 overall, 18-2 MIAC), who ran their conference home win streak to 17, also claimed the top seed with home-court throughout the six-team playoffs which begin Monday.
St. Thomas gets a semifinal game Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., most likely against the Carleton at Gustavus winner.
While they avenged a January 64-59 road loss to the Johnnies, the Tommies won the 12th MIAC regular-season championship for 27-year Tommie coach Steve Fritz. It was the first men's MIAC team title thus far this school year and third overall Tommie championship joining women's golf and women's cross country.
The Toms have won 15 of their last 17 over the Johnnies on their home floor.
St. John's (19-6, 17-3) trailed 38-29 at halftime and never got closer than five in the second half. The Johnnies outrebounded UST but shot just 31% from the field, including 3-of-20 from 3-point range.
St. Thomas made just 3-of-13 3-pointers but converted 27-of-33 at the foul line and shot 43%.
Senior center Craig Schafer had 21 points and 10 rebounds and senior guard Matt Ohme added 11 points, and five rebounds for St. John's.
Keating had 21 points and 13 rebounds for his ninth double-double of the season. After SJU climbed within 51-46, Keating answered with a clutch 3-point basket to swing the momentum back to UST.
Rosefelt had 20 points and 12 rebounds for his 42nd career double-double. Rosefelt moved into fourth place in UST career rebounding with 828 in just 77 games and joined a select group of conference players to surpass 1,300 points, 825 rebounds and 170 blocks.
Schnettler overcame a 2-for-9 day from 3-point range as he made 8-of-8 free throws and finished with 18 points. He and Concordia's Luke Linz finished tied for second in MIAC scoring as Bethel's Tim Madson scored 24 in an overtime loss to Augsburg to win by six total points.
The doors were locked 60 minutes before tipoff with a capacity crowd. More than 400 fans were turned away in UST's biggest regular-season home basketball audience in more than a decade.
