University of St. Thomas Athletics
Saint John's
Men's Hoops gets Steve Fritz win No. 500
1/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Sophomore guard Joe Scott scored nine consecutive points to fuel a 20-2 second-half run and lead the first-place Tommies (12-3 overall, 8-2 MIAC) to a 71-58 win over the visiting Johnnies (9-6, 6-4) and secure coaching victory No. 500 for St. Thomas head coach Steve Fritz.
The Tommies, who ran their MIAC home win streak to 27, remain tied for the conference lead with Gustavus at the halfway point of the 20-game conference race.
Fritz' teams are 500-236 in 28th years, all at St. Thomas, with only one losing season and 12 MIAC championships. He's just the 12th active Division III men's coach to reach the 500-win milestone.
Scott finished with a team-high 18 points, Al McCoy came off the bench to contribute 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists, and B.J. Viau had 10 points and eight rebounds. UST has won 11 of its last 12 games with Viau in the lineup.
The Toms had a 28-12 advantage in bench scoring, shot 51% from the field to SJU's 39%, and had a 34-30 rebounding edge.
Brady Brink had 21 points, 11 rebounds and three assists for the Johnnies, who had a three-game win streak snapped. Ryan Lieser added 11 points.
The Toms made only 1-of-9 from 3-point range in the first half and led just 33-32 at halftime. Scott scored nine points on three possessions to start a 20-2 run that built a 55-37 lead with 12:53 left. St. John's never pulled closer than 13 thereafter.
Click here to see box score:
http://www.tommiesports.com/mbb/stats/1-21-mbb.htm
Fritz gets a momento from Vice President Jane Canney. (Mike Ekern photo)
B.J. Viau drives the lane for two in the second half. (Elias Adams photo)
Al McCoy drives the lane for a first-half basket. (Elias Adams photo)
UST's Teddy Archer (right) battles SJU's Aaron Burtzel. (Elias Adams photo)
Coach Steve Fritz won his 500th game and his Toms remained in a share for the MIAC lead. (Mike Ekern photo)
