University of St. Thomas Athletics
Saturday, February 12
St. Paul, Minn.
7:00 p.m.
8-17,2-11Summit League
64
vs
75
North Dakota State
19-8,11-4Summit League
1
2
F
North Dakota St.
31
44
75
St. Thomas (MN)
34
30
64
Men’s Basketball leads late but can’t overcome NDSU’s length in front of a ruckus crowd in Schoenecker Arena
2/12/2022 9:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball
St. Paul, Minn. – The St. Thomas Men's Basketball Team used a huge four-point play to swing momentum in their favor heading into halftime, and led by over 10 minutes of the second half before falling to North Dakota State 75-64.
"I'm really proud of how our guys competed tonight against an outstanding team," said Head Coach Dr. Johnny Tauer. "North Dakota State is incredibly well coached, experienced and really physical. I thought for 40 minutes, our guys put as complete of an effort together as they have all year. It was an unbelievable atmosphere, and it was a foreshadowing of what Division I basketball is going to look like at St. Thomas. I think our guys are working tirelessly to leave a legacy and foundation that going to make St. Thomas proud for decades to come. We're grateful for all of the support."
In a defensive start to the game, the Bison struck first with over two-and-a-half minutes expired with a three-point shot. The Bison led by as many as 10 points, 27-17 with five minutes to play in the first half.
Over the final five minutes of the first half, St. Thomas went on a 17-4 run, highlighted by a four-point play by senior G Riley Miller with less than a minute to play in the first half. With the run, St. Thomas opened up a 34-31 lead heading into intermission.
Individually, junior F Brooks Allen led the Purple in the first half with 12 points on a 4-of-6 effort from the field and a 4-of-5 effort from the charity stripe. Six different Tommies made their way into the scoring column in the opening half. Senior F Parker Bjorklund added eight points and Miller added seven points.
As a team, St. Thomas connected on 44 percent (11-of-25) of its shots from the field and 25 percent (2-of-8) from behind the arc. Defensively, the Tommies forced nine first-half turnovers by the Bison.
Through the first 11 minutes of the games the two teams exchanged blows, but the Tommies never lost the lead, and led by as many as four points.
With 8:07 to play in the second half, NDSU took its first lead of the second half 53-52 on a four-point swing following a foul and an offensive rebound, put-back by the Bison. After surrendering the lead, the Tommies could never regain it.
With 3:09 to play the Purple cut the lead to three points, 62-59 from a lay-up from Allen. In the final three minutes of the game, St. Thomas could never cut the lead to less than six points, with NDSU ultimately earning the 75-64 win.
As a team, St. Thomas connected on 42 percent (22-of-53) of its shots from behind the arc and only 14 percent (3-of-21) from behind the arc. The Tommies played a strong, smart 40-minute effort, committing only eight turnovers and limiting the Bison to a 39 percent (7-of-18) showing from deep.
Individually Allen and Bjorklund led the scoring efforts with 18 points each. Miller added 10 points of his own.
The Tommies return to action on Thursday as they travel to Vermillion, S.D. to face the University of South Dakota, tipoff is slated for 7:00 p.m.
"I'm really proud of how our guys competed tonight against an outstanding team," said Head Coach Dr. Johnny Tauer. "North Dakota State is incredibly well coached, experienced and really physical. I thought for 40 minutes, our guys put as complete of an effort together as they have all year. It was an unbelievable atmosphere, and it was a foreshadowing of what Division I basketball is going to look like at St. Thomas. I think our guys are working tirelessly to leave a legacy and foundation that going to make St. Thomas proud for decades to come. We're grateful for all of the support."
In a defensive start to the game, the Bison struck first with over two-and-a-half minutes expired with a three-point shot. The Bison led by as many as 10 points, 27-17 with five minutes to play in the first half.
Over the final five minutes of the first half, St. Thomas went on a 17-4 run, highlighted by a four-point play by senior G Riley Miller with less than a minute to play in the first half. With the run, St. Thomas opened up a 34-31 lead heading into intermission.
Individually, junior F Brooks Allen led the Purple in the first half with 12 points on a 4-of-6 effort from the field and a 4-of-5 effort from the charity stripe. Six different Tommies made their way into the scoring column in the opening half. Senior F Parker Bjorklund added eight points and Miller added seven points.
As a team, St. Thomas connected on 44 percent (11-of-25) of its shots from the field and 25 percent (2-of-8) from behind the arc. Defensively, the Tommies forced nine first-half turnovers by the Bison.
Through the first 11 minutes of the games the two teams exchanged blows, but the Tommies never lost the lead, and led by as many as four points.
With 8:07 to play in the second half, NDSU took its first lead of the second half 53-52 on a four-point swing following a foul and an offensive rebound, put-back by the Bison. After surrendering the lead, the Tommies could never regain it.
With 3:09 to play the Purple cut the lead to three points, 62-59 from a lay-up from Allen. In the final three minutes of the game, St. Thomas could never cut the lead to less than six points, with NDSU ultimately earning the 75-64 win.
As a team, St. Thomas connected on 42 percent (22-of-53) of its shots from behind the arc and only 14 percent (3-of-21) from behind the arc. The Tommies played a strong, smart 40-minute effort, committing only eight turnovers and limiting the Bison to a 39 percent (7-of-18) showing from deep.
Individually Allen and Bjorklund led the scoring efforts with 18 points each. Miller added 10 points of his own.
The Tommies return to action on Thursday as they travel to Vermillion, S.D. to face the University of South Dakota, tipoff is slated for 7:00 p.m.
Team Stats
NDSU
UST
FG%
.481
.415
3FG%
.389
.143
FT%
.800
.739
RB
37
24
TO
10
8
STL
2
4
Game Leaders
Pts
17
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
10
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
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