University of St. Thomas Athletics
Saturday, November 26
Salt Lake City, Utah
7:00 p.m. Central
at
Utah
Photo by: Wesley Dean
Salt Lake City site of first-ever meeting between St. Thomas, Utah on Saturday
11/25/2022 9:36:00 AM | Men's Basketball
St. Paul, Minn. -- St. Thomas Men's Basketball makes its longest road trip of the season Saturday, Nov. 26 as it takes on Pac-12 opponent Utah at 7 p.m. from the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Tommie Watch
St. Thomas held off Milwaukee for a 76-72 win Wednesday, Nov. 23 in Milwaukee, Wis. With the win, the Tommies have won three games in a row for the first time since joining NCAA Division I.
Brooks Allen led St. Thomas with 20 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor, including 4-of-5 from behind the arc, while sinking 6-of-8 from the free throw line. His 20 points is two shy of his career high and is just the second game of his career reaching at least 20 points. Allen also led the Tommies with six assists and chipped in six rebounds.
Riley Miller finished with 18 points on 6-of-15 shooting and 5-of-11 from 3-point range. He has scored at least 15 points in four games this season and led the team three times.
Ahjany Lee led the team with seven rebounds to go along with nine points while making his second start of the season. Kendall Blue came off the bench and finished with 10 points, his fourth game this season in double figures.
Series History
St. Thomas and Utah will meet for the first time in history.
Scouting Utah
The Utes are 4-2 overall, most recently going 1-2 at the Ft. Myers Tip-Off in Ft. Myers, Fla. Utah took a tournament-opening loss of 65-55 to Sam Houston State Nov. 17, a 68-64 win over Georgia Tech Nov. 21 and a 52-49 loss to (RV) Mississippi State Nov. 23.
Branden Carlson leads the Utes with 13.0 points per game followed by Gabe Madsen with 12.7. Carlson is 11th in the country with 11 total blocks.
The Utes rank fourth in the nation allowing opponents to shoot 32.6 percent from the field, are 13th with 43.5 rebounds per game and are 17th allowing 55.2 points per game and holding opponents to 24.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
Zootown Classic
Riley Miller led St. Thomas with 16.7 points per game on 43.3 percent shooting from the field (13-30) and 46.4 percent from 3-point range (13-28). He also went a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line while playing 32.2 minutes per game.
Andrew Rohde's performance at the Zootown Classic was highlighted by the game-winning basket to lift St. Thomas over Troy. He tied Miller for a team-high 16 points against the Trojans, including shooting 7-of-7 from the free throw line, with three 3-pointers, two assists and one block.
Miller and Rohde were both selected to the Zootown Classic All-Tournament Team.
Parker Bjorklund totaled 10.3 points per game on 58.3 percent shooting (14-24). Kendall Blue led the bench with 9.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. He scored 10 points against Montana and Troy before adding nine against Merrimack.
Above .500 From the Floor
The Tommies have shot above 50 percent from the field in each of their five wins this season. In addition, the Purple shot exactly 42.9 percent from 3-point range in wins over Chicago State, St. Francis Brooklyn, and Troy. St. Thomas has hit at least 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range over the last four games.
St. Thomas has totaled five games shooting at least 50 percent from the floor this season after recording six such games last season. The Tommies were 5-1 in those games last season.
The Tommies are tied for 37th in the country shooting 50.0 percent from the field this season.
From the Parking Lot
St. Thomas' 3-point shooting has been on display in recent years, and this season is no different. The Tommies sank 17 3-point field goals against Merrimack on Nov. 19, totaling the Warriors' rebound total in the game.
The St. Thomas program record for 3-pointers in a game was 15 from 1992-2018. Since 2018, the Tommies have made at least 17 3-pointers in a game on 16 occasions. The current program record is 22, set twice during the 2021-22 season against Northland and North Central.
The Tommies are currently tied for 47th nationally with 9.7 3-pointers per game.
Reaching the Peak for the First Time
Riley Miller became the first Tommie to earn the TicketSmarter Summit League Peak Performer of the Week following his performance at the Zootown Classic.
A First Above 74
The victory over Troy is the first time in the NCAA Division I era that St. Thomas has won when allowing its opponent to score more than 74 points. The Tommies were 0-19 when allowing 75+ points previously.
The 38th Member of the Club
Riley Miller entered the 2022-23 season 27 points shy of 1,000 for his career. After scoring 13 points against No. 9 Creighton in the season opener, he scored 15 against Chicago State to hit the milestone. He became the 38th Tommie all-time to reach the mark, sinking the first of two free throws with 10:22 to play against the Cougars.
Miller began his Tommie career with 145 points as a freshman and 247 as a sophomore before further increasing his scoring average with 133 points in just seven games during the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season. Miller totaled nearly half of his career scoring total last season with 448 points while 660 of his scoring total have come behind the 3-point line.
Miller is the first Tommie to reach 1,000 career points since guard Anders Nelson during the 2020-21 season.
The 3-Point Veteran
Riley Miller surpassed 100 made 3-pointers last season and is at 233 made on his 101-game career. He made 103 treys as he converted 41 percent behind the arc last season. Miller was one of just four D-I shooters to make 100 or more threes and convert at 40 percent or better behind the arc.
His nine 3-pointers against Merrimack this season set a new career-high and was one shy of tying the program single-game record, set by Curt Kietzer with 10 in 1987.
Miller leads the Summit League and ranks tied for fourth in the nation with 4.0 3-point field goals per game. He's also second in the league shooting 50.0 percent from long range, second with 15.6 points per game.
Freshmen Leading the Way
Andrew Rohde has led the Tommies in scoring during four of seven games this season and is second overall scoring 12.9 points per game. He has a team-high 36 field goals made and 4.0 assists per game and is third on the team with 4.3 rebounds per game.
Rohde scored 20 points in the Nov. 13 win over St. Francis Brooklyn, becoming the first Tommie freshman to score at least 20 points in a game since Anders Nelson recorded six games with at least 20 points in 2018-19.
Kendall Blue leads the bench with 8.4 points per game on 50.0 percent shooting (21-42). He's is third on the team with 2.0 assists per game. Blue has scored double-digit points in four of the last five games, including a career-high 15 against St. Francis Brooklyn.
Ahjany Lee has made two starts this season in place of Parker Bjorklund, averaging 5.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. He's shooting 50.0 percent from the field and is tied for the team lead with four blocks.
NCAA DI Recruiting Class: Part Two
After bringing in Ben Nau and Ryan Dufault during the 2021 Tommie Signing Class, the 2022 class was bumped up to four with the additions of Carter Bjerke (6-9, F), Kendall Blue (6-6, G), Ahjany Lee (6-9, F) and Andrew Rohde (6-6, G).
The 2022 class was ranked number 52 of 368 schools according to Rivals.com. Additionally, only three of the top 50 ranked classes were mid-major schools.
Opponents Across the Country
St. Thomas will face programs from across eight conference, outside of the Summit League: Big East (Creighton), Big Sky (Montana, Montana State), Horizon (Milwaukee, Green Bay), NEC (St. Francis Brooklyn, Merrimack), Pac 12 (Utah), Sun Belt (Troy), UMAC (Crown, North Central), WAC (Chicago State).
Jumping into NCAA Division I
The Tommies finished 2021-22 eighth in the conference and bring back 10 student-athletes from that squad, including two starters.
Graduate students Parker Bjorklund and Riley Miller chose to return to the Tommies this season, combining for 135 games played with the program since 2019-20. Miller led the team with 15.4 points per game and chipped in 2.2 assists per game while Bjorklund scored 12.6 points per game with 6.3 rebounds per game last season. Bjorklund was second in the Summit League for field goal percentage.
Follow Along
For more information on St. Thomas Men's Basketball, follow along on Twitter at @TommieMBBall and on Instagram at @TommieHoops
Join Us
To reserve your seat to be a part of the Tommies' 2022 season, click HERE to view ticketing information and purchase options.
Tommie Watch
St. Thomas held off Milwaukee for a 76-72 win Wednesday, Nov. 23 in Milwaukee, Wis. With the win, the Tommies have won three games in a row for the first time since joining NCAA Division I.
Brooks Allen led St. Thomas with 20 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor, including 4-of-5 from behind the arc, while sinking 6-of-8 from the free throw line. His 20 points is two shy of his career high and is just the second game of his career reaching at least 20 points. Allen also led the Tommies with six assists and chipped in six rebounds.
Riley Miller finished with 18 points on 6-of-15 shooting and 5-of-11 from 3-point range. He has scored at least 15 points in four games this season and led the team three times.
Ahjany Lee led the team with seven rebounds to go along with nine points while making his second start of the season. Kendall Blue came off the bench and finished with 10 points, his fourth game this season in double figures.
Series History
St. Thomas and Utah will meet for the first time in history.
Scouting Utah
The Utes are 4-2 overall, most recently going 1-2 at the Ft. Myers Tip-Off in Ft. Myers, Fla. Utah took a tournament-opening loss of 65-55 to Sam Houston State Nov. 17, a 68-64 win over Georgia Tech Nov. 21 and a 52-49 loss to (RV) Mississippi State Nov. 23.
Branden Carlson leads the Utes with 13.0 points per game followed by Gabe Madsen with 12.7. Carlson is 11th in the country with 11 total blocks.
The Utes rank fourth in the nation allowing opponents to shoot 32.6 percent from the field, are 13th with 43.5 rebounds per game and are 17th allowing 55.2 points per game and holding opponents to 24.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
Zootown Classic
Riley Miller led St. Thomas with 16.7 points per game on 43.3 percent shooting from the field (13-30) and 46.4 percent from 3-point range (13-28). He also went a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line while playing 32.2 minutes per game.
Andrew Rohde's performance at the Zootown Classic was highlighted by the game-winning basket to lift St. Thomas over Troy. He tied Miller for a team-high 16 points against the Trojans, including shooting 7-of-7 from the free throw line, with three 3-pointers, two assists and one block.
Miller and Rohde were both selected to the Zootown Classic All-Tournament Team.
Parker Bjorklund totaled 10.3 points per game on 58.3 percent shooting (14-24). Kendall Blue led the bench with 9.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. He scored 10 points against Montana and Troy before adding nine against Merrimack.
Above .500 From the Floor
The Tommies have shot above 50 percent from the field in each of their five wins this season. In addition, the Purple shot exactly 42.9 percent from 3-point range in wins over Chicago State, St. Francis Brooklyn, and Troy. St. Thomas has hit at least 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range over the last four games.
St. Thomas has totaled five games shooting at least 50 percent from the floor this season after recording six such games last season. The Tommies were 5-1 in those games last season.
The Tommies are tied for 37th in the country shooting 50.0 percent from the field this season.
From the Parking Lot
St. Thomas' 3-point shooting has been on display in recent years, and this season is no different. The Tommies sank 17 3-point field goals against Merrimack on Nov. 19, totaling the Warriors' rebound total in the game.
The St. Thomas program record for 3-pointers in a game was 15 from 1992-2018. Since 2018, the Tommies have made at least 17 3-pointers in a game on 16 occasions. The current program record is 22, set twice during the 2021-22 season against Northland and North Central.
The Tommies are currently tied for 47th nationally with 9.7 3-pointers per game.
Reaching the Peak for the First Time
Riley Miller became the first Tommie to earn the TicketSmarter Summit League Peak Performer of the Week following his performance at the Zootown Classic.
A First Above 74
The victory over Troy is the first time in the NCAA Division I era that St. Thomas has won when allowing its opponent to score more than 74 points. The Tommies were 0-19 when allowing 75+ points previously.
The 38th Member of the Club
Riley Miller entered the 2022-23 season 27 points shy of 1,000 for his career. After scoring 13 points against No. 9 Creighton in the season opener, he scored 15 against Chicago State to hit the milestone. He became the 38th Tommie all-time to reach the mark, sinking the first of two free throws with 10:22 to play against the Cougars.
Miller began his Tommie career with 145 points as a freshman and 247 as a sophomore before further increasing his scoring average with 133 points in just seven games during the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season. Miller totaled nearly half of his career scoring total last season with 448 points while 660 of his scoring total have come behind the 3-point line.
Miller is the first Tommie to reach 1,000 career points since guard Anders Nelson during the 2020-21 season.
The 3-Point Veteran
Riley Miller surpassed 100 made 3-pointers last season and is at 233 made on his 101-game career. He made 103 treys as he converted 41 percent behind the arc last season. Miller was one of just four D-I shooters to make 100 or more threes and convert at 40 percent or better behind the arc.
His nine 3-pointers against Merrimack this season set a new career-high and was one shy of tying the program single-game record, set by Curt Kietzer with 10 in 1987.
Miller leads the Summit League and ranks tied for fourth in the nation with 4.0 3-point field goals per game. He's also second in the league shooting 50.0 percent from long range, second with 15.6 points per game.
Freshmen Leading the Way
Andrew Rohde has led the Tommies in scoring during four of seven games this season and is second overall scoring 12.9 points per game. He has a team-high 36 field goals made and 4.0 assists per game and is third on the team with 4.3 rebounds per game.
Rohde scored 20 points in the Nov. 13 win over St. Francis Brooklyn, becoming the first Tommie freshman to score at least 20 points in a game since Anders Nelson recorded six games with at least 20 points in 2018-19.
Kendall Blue leads the bench with 8.4 points per game on 50.0 percent shooting (21-42). He's is third on the team with 2.0 assists per game. Blue has scored double-digit points in four of the last five games, including a career-high 15 against St. Francis Brooklyn.
Ahjany Lee has made two starts this season in place of Parker Bjorklund, averaging 5.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. He's shooting 50.0 percent from the field and is tied for the team lead with four blocks.
NCAA DI Recruiting Class: Part Two
After bringing in Ben Nau and Ryan Dufault during the 2021 Tommie Signing Class, the 2022 class was bumped up to four with the additions of Carter Bjerke (6-9, F), Kendall Blue (6-6, G), Ahjany Lee (6-9, F) and Andrew Rohde (6-6, G).
The 2022 class was ranked number 52 of 368 schools according to Rivals.com. Additionally, only three of the top 50 ranked classes were mid-major schools.
Opponents Across the Country
St. Thomas will face programs from across eight conference, outside of the Summit League: Big East (Creighton), Big Sky (Montana, Montana State), Horizon (Milwaukee, Green Bay), NEC (St. Francis Brooklyn, Merrimack), Pac 12 (Utah), Sun Belt (Troy), UMAC (Crown, North Central), WAC (Chicago State).
Jumping into NCAA Division I
The Tommies finished 2021-22 eighth in the conference and bring back 10 student-athletes from that squad, including two starters.
Graduate students Parker Bjorklund and Riley Miller chose to return to the Tommies this season, combining for 135 games played with the program since 2019-20. Miller led the team with 15.4 points per game and chipped in 2.2 assists per game while Bjorklund scored 12.6 points per game with 6.3 rebounds per game last season. Bjorklund was second in the Summit League for field goal percentage.
Follow Along
For more information on St. Thomas Men's Basketball, follow along on Twitter at @TommieMBBall and on Instagram at @TommieHoops
Join Us
To reserve your seat to be a part of the Tommies' 2022 season, click HERE to view ticketing information and purchase options.
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