Minessale’s career day, comeback not enough in OT loss at Highlanders

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Freshman Nolan Minessale powered a near comeback by St. Thomas men's basketball Sunday afternoon during an 81-79 overtime loss to UC Riverside in Riverside, Calif. The Tommies (10-5) overcame a 14-point deficit as Minessale scored a career high 27 points, the highest scoring game by a Tommie this season, before late free throws gave the Highlanders (9-5) the win.

Minessale's 27 points came on 9-of-13 shooting overall, along with two 3-pointers and 7-of-9 from the free throw line. He scored 18 points in the second half and overtime to top the team's previous high of 23 points scored by Miles Barnstable twice. Drake Dobbs also set a career high scoring with 19 points, 17 coming in the second half.

St. Thomas shot below 40 percent overall in the first half, including 1-of-11 from 3-point range, to trail by as many as 14 points. The Tommies sank 6-of-15 from long range in the second half and over 50 percent overall to overcome a 10-point halftime deficit. The Highlanders outrebounded the Tommies, 49-25, including 11-2 in overtime, the first overtime for St. Thomas since a road loss at South Dakota on Jan. 18, 2024.

GAME RECAP
The game of runs began with the Highlanders following a 15-2 lead over the opening five minutes, forcing the Tommies to go 1-of-8 shooting overall. St. Thomas bounced back with a 12-0 run over the next three minutes, getting scores from five players to trail 15-14.

Following the Tommies' 10th kill shot (run of at least 10 straight points) of the season, the Highlanders put together one of their own with 13 straight points over a seven-minute stretch. The Purple went 0-of-7 from the field and 0-of-5 from long range during the run to face a 28-14 deficit. Nolan Minessale snapped the run and both teams traded scores until the halftime break, led 36-26 by UCR.

Dobbs sank his first 3-pointer in the game to open the second half for St. Thomas and bring the deficit back to single digits, 39-28. Dobbs' second 3-pointer brought the Purple within four but UCR extended its lead back to 10 following a 7-1 run over a three-minute span.

Dobbs' final 3-pointer of the game again brought the Tommies within four before he sank three free throws to trail one, 57-56, with 6:37 to play in regulation. UCR held St. Thomas at bay until a two-minute span when Minessale scored five points of a 9-2 run for its first lead of the game. Minessale scored on back-to-back possessions, a layup for a 71-69 lead before a steal and dunk extended the lead and forced a UCR timeout.

The Highlanders sank two free throws and took advantage of a Tommie turnover for two more free throws to tie the game, 73-73. Dobbs had a last second chance at a layup that rimmed out to go into overtime.

UCR made its first two shots in overtime for a quick 77-73 lead but Carter Bjerke made his second 3-pointer to keep St. Thomas within one. Minessale made four free throws, the second two to tie the game again with 13 seconds to play, but a last-second foul allowed UCR to make two free throws to seal the win.

TOMMIE TIDBITS

Nolan Minessale's 27 points is the most for the Tommies in a game since Raheem Anthony scored 32 against North Dakota on Jan. 27, 2024, two days after Parker Bjorklund scored 32 points against North Dakota State. Minessale tied Andrew Rohde (2022-23) for the most points scored by a true freshman during the DI era. He made 9-of-16 from the field, 2-of-7 from long range, and 7-of-9 free throws along with four rebounds, two steals and one assist.
Drake Dobbs set a career high 19 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including 3-of-5 on 3-pointers, and 6-of-6 on free throws. He pulled down four rebounds and totaled three assists. Dobbs' previous career high was 18 points, scored three times.
The Tommies fall to 9-1 this season when shooting higher from the field than its opponent.
St. Thomas has recorded a half shooting above 50 percent in each of the past seven games.

UP NEXT
St. Thomas enters Summit League play Jan. 2 at North Dakota State and Jan. 4 at North Dakota. The Purple make their conference home opener Jan. 8 against South Dakota State.

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Minessale’s career day, comeback not enough in OT loss at Highlanders

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Team Stats

Nolan Minessale

Drake Dobbs

Miles Barnstable

Ryan Dufault

Players Mentioned

Raheem Anthony

Miles Barnstable

Carter Bjerke

Parker Bjorklund

Drake Dobbs

Nolan Minessale

University of St. Thomas Athletics