Bjerke career scoring game not enough in 81-73 loss to Wofford

MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- Redshirt sophomore Carter Bjerke scored a career high 20 points Friday during an 81-73 loss to Wofford to open the Cream City Challenge in Milwaukee, Wis. The Tommies were outshot and and outrebounded as they fall to 3-3 overall and the Terriers improve to 2-3.

Bjerke led all scorers on 7-of-10 shooting, including a career best 6-of-8 from long range, to top his previous highs of 16 points and four 3-pointers. Miles Barnstable added 14 points followed by Drake Dobbs with 10, who also tied Kendall Blue for a team high four assists.

The Tommies shot 41.5 percent from the field (22-53), including 32.3 percent from 3-point range (10-31), while the Terriers shot 54.5 percent overall (30-55) and 45.5 percent from beyond the arc (10-22). Wofford outrebounded St. Thomas, 39-27, and won the battle in the paint, 40-24.

GAME RECAP
Nolan Minessale scored the first of his seven points to open the game, converting an and-one opportunity before Wofford answered with its first 3-pointer. The Terrier lead doubled over the next five minutes before the Tommies chipped away to cut the deficit to one. Ryan Dufault converted a layup off a turnover to start a 7-1 run that brought the WC lead to 22-21 with 9:13 in the first half.

A 3-pointer from Bjerke gave St. Thomas its second and final lead of the game, 27-26, but Wofford went on a 17-3 run for its largest lead of the game. The Purple finished the final 6:57 of the first half 1-of-7 from the field with two turnovers that led to Terrier points and a 43-33 deficit.

Blue began the second half with his only 3-pointer of the game but it wasn't until Barnstable sank a 3-pointer with 11:54 to play that the Tommies were back within one score, 55-52. Wofford converted four straight field goal attempts compared to a St. Thomas turnover and two 3-point misses to regain control for the remainder of the game.

TOMMIE TIDBITS

The Tommies fell to 7-4 during neutral site games during the Division I era and 2-3 over the past two seasons.
Carter Bjerke's previous career high of 16 points came on Feb. 24, 2024 at South Dakota State while he previously made a career high four 3-pointers on three occasions. He has shot above 50 percent from the field 19 times in his career.
Miles Barnstable has scored at least 11 points in all but one game this season and has scored at least 14 in three. He totaled three steals to set a season high.
Drake Dobbs tied for the team lead with four assists with one turnover, his sixth career game with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 4:1 or better.
St. Thomas was 8-4 last season when a player scored at least 20 points and are now 1-1 this season (Barnstable 23 points at Green Bay on 11/8/24).
The Purple have allowed a double-double in back-to-back games for the first time since last season against Oral Roberts (1/13/24) and South Dakota (1/18/24).

UP NEXT
St. Thomas continues the Cream City Challenge Saturday at 12 p.m. against Portland State followed by the tournament finale Sunday at 1:30 p.m. against Milwaukee.

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-- St. Thomas Athletics --

Bjerke career scoring game not enough in 81-73 loss to Wofford

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Team Stats

Carter Bjerke

Miles Barnstable

Drake Dobbs

Nolan Minessale

Players Mentioned

Miles Barnstable

Carter Bjerke

Kendall Blue

Drake Dobbs

Ryan Dufault

Nolan Minessale

University of St. Thomas Athletics