University of St. Thomas Athletics
Bethel
Men's Basketball wins in OT, now 9-2
1/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Senior forward Lonnie Robinson scored six of his season-high 16 points in overtime to lead the host St. Thomas Tommies (9-2 overall, 5-1) to an 83-77 win over the Bethel Royals (5-5, 1-4) in MIAC men's basketball play Monday night at UST's Schoenecker Arena.
The No. 23-ranked Tommies now are alone in first place in the MIAC with Hamline's home loss to Concordia-Moorhead. UST pushed its home win streak vs. conference foes to 25 games dating back to January 2006.
Bethel's Jeff Reck scored an inside basket with 18 seconds left in regulation to tie the score at 66-66. The Toms turned the ball over in the final four seconds in the lane, leading to overtime.
Robinson's 3-point basket put UST ahead 71-68 in overtime, but Nick Otterson's 3-pointer tied the game for the Royals. Robinson¹s driving basket with 1:55 to play put UST ahead to stay at 73-71. After a turnover, Tommie freshman Tyler Nicolai beat the shot clock with a spinning 3-point basket for a 76-71 lead with :58 remaining. B.J. Viau had a steal and layup seconds later to push the lead to 78-71.
Viau had a career-high 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals for St. Thomas. Junior center Al McCoy had nine points and a career-high 13 rebounds off the bench. UST outrebounded the Royals 38-31.
Otterson had 19 points, Tim Madson scored 17, and Cory Laugen had 13 points for the Royals, who lost their seventh consecutive meeting with St. Thomas. Bethel starting center Mike Moberg fouled out late in regulation with seven points and six rebounds.
Bethel led just twice all game -- in the final 11:00 at 54-53 and in the last 4:00 briefly at 64-63.
Click here to see box score:
http://www.tommiesports.com/mbb/stats/mbb1-7.htm
Click here to view or purchase Greg Smith action photos:
Junior Brett Tuma was one of 13 Tommies to log minutes in the overtime win. (Greg Smith photo)
The defense of Teddy Archer (5) helped slow Bethel ace Tim Madson. (Greg Smith photo)
Sophomore Sam Eicher has come off the bench to score in back-to-back games. (Greg Smith photo)
Al McCoy (52) collected a career-high 13 rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench. (Greg Smith photo)
