University of St. Thomas Athletics
13-1, 9-0MIAC
Bethel
8-7, 5-5MIAC
Men's Hoops efficient again, wins 13th in row
1/16/2019 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Senior Connor Bair recorded his fourth consecutive 20-plus point scoring game and the visiting Tommie men ran their basketball win streak to 13 with Wednesday night's 86-75 conference victory at Bethel.
Bair closed with 21 points and seven rebounds, and has 101 points in the last four contests. Tommie freshman guard Anders Nelson also finished with 21 points, capped by his run of 8-of-8 at the foul line in the final 67 seconds on the clock.
St. Thomas (13-1 overall, 9-0 MIAC) moved back into a share of the conference lead with idle St. John's. The Tommies had only 10 turnovers, shot 50 percent from the floor, and sank 17-of-19 at the foul line.
Bethel (8-7, 5-5) was led in scoring by Matt Ambriz and Granger Kingland with 17 points each.
St. Thomas is converting 77 percent at the foul line this winter after making just 61.1 percent last season in a 14-12 finish. After losing 10 road games last winter, the Toms have won five on the road and one neutral-site contest during their current 13-game streak.
Senior Michael Hannon sank both of his free-throw attempts Wednesday and has made 32 consecutive at the line dating back to last February, including all 26 this season. Nelson is 20-for-20 in his last two games and has made 25 in a row dating back to the Dec. 12 win at Concordia-Moorhead.
St. Thomas used an 11-0 run late in the first half to erase the last Bethel lead. The Toms led 38-35 at halftime, and the Royals never got closer than three in the final 7:40.
St. Thomas is home Saturday afternoon to face St. Mary's.
