Nau powers bench and Tommies to 77-71 win over Broncos

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Sophomore Ben Nau delivered a breakout performance on Wednesday night, scoring a career-high 22 points to lead St. Thomas to a 77-71 victory over Western Michigan at Schoenecker Arena. The Tommies improved to 8-4 on the season and showcased their ability to dominate during key stretches of play.

Nau's 22 points came on a blistering 6-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc, setting career highs in both scoring and three-pointers made. His efficient performance came in just 16 minutes of action, underscoring his impact. Kendall Blue added a well-rounded game with 13 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block, hitting 3-of-5 from deep to help stretch the floor.

The Tommies shot an impressive 46 percent from the field, including 45 percent from three-point range with 13 makes. They were near-perfect at the free-throw line, converting 10-of-12 attempts (83%). The bench was a key factor, outscoring Western Michigan's reserves 41-10, with significant contributions from Nau and Ben Oosterbaan, who scored seven points and finished with a plus/minus of 24 in less than 16 minutes played. The Broncos dominated the battle on the boards, 46-28, including 16 second chance points, but the Tommies gave away a season low five turnovers on its way to scoring 16 points off nine WMU turnovers.

GAME RECAP
St. Thomas set the tone early, answering a 2-2 tie with a 10-0 run to build a 12-2 lead. Drake Dobbs started the run with a floating jump shot, followed by three-pointers from Kendall Blue and Miles Barnstable. Carter Bjerke capped the surge with a hook shot in the paint as the Tommies' aggressive defense forced the Broncos to miss eight straight shots for the early advantage.

The largest run of the game came in the second half after Bjerke hit a 3-pointer at the first half buzzer to hold on to the lead, 36-34. The Tommies answered a Western Michigan 9-0 scoring burst out of halftime with a dominant 16-0 stretch. Bjerke started the run with a smooth hook shot in the paint, and the Tommies followed with four straight three-pointers, including two from Nau. The crowd erupted as St. Thomas stretched its lead to double digits, putting the game out of reach.

Despite a late push from the Broncos, who cut the lead to six in the final minute, the Tommies held their ground with clutch free throws and timely defensive stops to avoid WMU 3-pointers. Nau sealed the win with two free throws in the closing seconds, capping his career night.

TOMMIE TIDBITS

The Tommies are now 8-0 this season when leading at halftime and 7-0 when putting up a higher field goal percentage.
St. Thomas has had a half shooting at least 50 percent from the floor in each game of its season-best four-game winning streak.
The Tommies have recorded three "Kill Shots"—scoring runs of at least 10 points—in their last four games, including a 16-0 stretch against Western Michigan.
Ben Nau delivered a career-high 22 points, draining a career-best six three-pointers in just 16 minutes on the court. His 3-pointers are tied for the team's single-game high of the season, tying Carter Bjerke who sank six Nov. 22, 2024 versus Wofford. Nau also finished with four assists and went 4-of-4 from the free throw line.
Kendall Blue filled the stat sheet with 13 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block. He also connected on 3-of-5 attempts from beyond the arc and has scored at least 11 points in all but three games this season.
Ben Oosterbaan provided a spark off the bench, finishing with seven points on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting and a team-high plus/minus of +24 in just under 16 minutes of action.

UP NEXT
St. Thomas remains at home for its final game in Schoenecker Arena until the New Year as it hosts Crown College on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 2 p.m.

JOIN US
To reserve your seat to be a part of the Tommies' 2024-25 season, click HERE to view ticketing information and purchase options.

FOLLOW ALONG
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-- St. Thomas Athletics --

Nau powers bench and Tommies to 77-71 win over Broncos

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Team Stats

Ben Nau

Kendall Blue

Miles Barnstable

Carter Bjerke

Players Mentioned

Miles Barnstable

Carter Bjerke

Kendall Blue

Drake Dobbs

Ben Nau

Ben Oosterbaan

University of St. Thomas Athletics