University of St. Thomas Athletics
23-2,19-1MIAC
Saint Mary's
13-12,10-10MIAC
Crazy comeback, Men's Hoops snags MIAC title share
2/22/2020 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Sophomore guard Riley Miller's driving layup with one second left capped a wild comeback and lifted No. 3-ranked St. Thomas Men's Basketball to a 74-72 win over visiting St. Mary's in the regular-season finale Saturday afternoon at Schoenecker Arena.
The Tommies (22-3 overall, 19-1 MIAC) erased a 19-point deficit in the final 9:47 on the clock, in part because it sank 18-of-18 free-throw chances over that closing span. The comeback victory was capped by a 12-1 game-closing run in the final 2:24.
In running its season win streak to 12, St. Thomas earned a share of the league regular-season title with St. John's after both went 19-1 in league play.
This is the 34th all-time MIAC men's hoops title for St. Thomas in the regular season, including a championship or co-championship in 14 of the last 15 seasons.
Following today's men's games, St. John's won a tie-breaker coin flip and will be the No. 1 seed ahead of second-seed St. Thomas. Those teams get a bye into Thursday's home semifinal games.
St. Mary's was on the verge of ending a 31-season losing streak to UST dating back to January 1988 in the series. The Cardinals uncorked a 27-6 run early in the second half to build a 56-37 lead with just over 10:00 to play. Sawyer Rosner started the run by sinking three of his seven 3-point baskets in a 1:11 span on the clock for a 38-31 lead.
Burt Hedstrom and Miller both sank clutch 3-pointers in the final 2:24 to bring the Toms within 71-68. St. Thomas later trailed just 72-70 and had possession with 29 seconds left, but lost the ball out of bounds on a turnover.
The Toms' Kevin Cunningham stole the inbounds pass, and SMU was whistled for a hard foul on the tying layup attempt with :13 seconds to play. The Purple were awarded two free throws and the ball on an intentional foul with contact to the face. Zach Theisen sank both free-throw tries to tie the game.
With overtime a possibility and the score at 72-72, Miller took the inbounds pass, weaved near the top of the key, then attacked the basket, and his bank shot scored the go-ahead points with :01 left on the clock.
St. Thomas made 24-of-28 at the line to offset a 10-of-40 day from behind the arc. The Toms posted a 30-17 edge in bench scoring, and seven different Toms made at least one trey.
Rosner led the Cardinals with 25 points, including a 7-of-9 clip from 3-poinr range. Raheem Anthony had 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
Anders Nelson had 13 points, eight rebounds and four assists, and Hedstrom chipped in 11 points and 12 rebounds. Miller scored seven of his 11 points in the final 2:24.
St. Thomas will face either the Nos. 3-4-5 seed -- Augsburg, Bethel or St. Mary's -- at home in Thursday's playoff semifinals.
