Hot first half helps Tommies overcome Pioneers comeback, 74-62

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The wins in Schoenecker Arena continue to string together as St. Thomas men's basketball recorded its 13th consecutive at home after taking down Denver, 74-62, on Saturday night. The Tommies (15-5, 5-0 Summit League) rode a hot first half to hold off a second-half comeback by the Pioneers (6-15, 0-6 Summit League) and continue a perfect Summit League season start.

The Tommies shot 64.0 percent from the field in the first half, the second highest in a half this season, on its way to a 44-27 halftime lead. St. Thomas ended the game 48.9 percent from the field (22-45) and 46.2 percent from long range, including a season low six 3-pointers, while making 24-of-30 free throws through the game.

Freshman Nolan Minessale led all scorers with 17 points on just four field goals (4-4) as he made 8-of-10 free throws and added four rebounds and two steals. Miles Barnstable scored 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including 2-of-3 from long range, while Drake Dobbs chipped in 13 points, 11 coming in the first half, and Kendall Blue added 12. Blue recorded his most rebounds since November and led all players with eight.

GAME RECAP
Blue scored the first Tommie basket two minutes into play as he and Minessale combined for all of a 9-0 run and a 9-4 lead. After leading by two, 15-3, near the second media timeout, the St. Thomas defense limited Denver to 1-of-7 shooting from the field with one turnover over a nearly six-minute span to extend the advantage to nine, 25-16.

Barnstable started the Tommies' best scoring run of the night, 11-0, that included four Tommie scorers. Ben Nau hit a 3-pointer, followed by an and-one conversion by Dobbs and a 3-pointer by Minessale for a 38-22 lead with just over one minute to play. A last-second shooting foul and technical foul allowed Dobbs to add four free throws with 0.5 seconds on the game clock and give the Purple a 44-27 lead at the halftime break.

St. Thomas struggled to find rhythm from the field to start the second half, missing its first seven field goal attempts with two turnovers given away. By the time Ben Oosterbaan scored his first basket to end the slump, Denver pulled within eight points, 49-41, with 12:56 to play. The Purple's 30 percent shooting in the second half marked its second lowest this season while its 30 points was the lowest in a half.

Denver continued to chip away and used its largest scoring run of the night, 8-0, to draw within two, 57-55, with just under seven minutes to play. Despite missing a field goal on the ensuing possession, Minessale took advantage of a DU turnover for a dunk that began to swing momentum for St. Thomas.

Although an and-one conversion off a turnover brought the Pioneers within one, 59-58, the St. Thomas defense forced Denver to miss five straight shots and give away one turnover. During that three minute span, the Purple extended its lead back to double figures as it made 7-of-8 free throws and a shot-clock buzzer-beating jumper by Dobbs.

TOMMIE TIDBITS

St. Thomas remains undefeated on the season when leading at halftime (14-0) and when recording more assists than its opponents (10-0).
Saturday was the eighth time the Tommies shot at least 60 percent from the field in a half, going 6-0 in those games. The 64.0 percent shooting in the first half was the second highest in a half this season compared to the 30.0 percent shooting in the second half that was the second lowest for the Tommies in a half this season.
The Tommies' DI era best home winning streak was extended to 13 games, also marking the second time over the last three seasons St. Thomas has opened its season with at least nine straight home wins. St. Thomas began the 2022-23 season with 10 straight wins at Schoenecker Arena. The Purple are now 34-4 at Schoenecker Arena since the final home game of the 2021-22 season.
Nolan Minessale led all scorers with 17 points on 4-of-4 shooting, making 8-of-10 from the free throw line. Saturday was Minessale's fourth time leading the Tommies in scoring, second only to Miles Barnstable (8). He added four rebounds and a career high three steals, marking his third career game with at least 15 points, four rebounds and two steals.
Miles Barnstable recorded 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including 2-of-3 from long range, while he added two rebounds, two assists, and one block.
Drake Dobbs totaled 13 points on 4-of-8 shooting and 5-of-6 from the free throw line, scoring 11 points in the first half. He added three assists with no turnovers to improve his assist-to-turnover ratio to 3.7 on the season and 5.4 over the past 12 games.
Kendall Blue scored 12 points and pulled down a game-high eight rebounds, his second highest total of the season. It's his most rebounds of the season since setting a career high 11 Nov. 10 at Oklahoma State.

UP NEXT
St. Thomas takes to the road for two games, beginning Thursday, Jan. 23 at Omaha and ending Saturday, Jan. 25 at Kansas City. The Tommies and Mavericks are both 5-0 to start the Summit League, setting up the first game between two 5-0 Summit League opponents in 13 years.

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
For more information on St. Thomas Men's Basketball, follow along on X (formerly Twitter) at @TommieMBBall and on Instagram at @TommieHoops

-- St. Thomas Athletics --

Hot first half helps Tommies overcome Pioneers comeback, 74-62

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Team Stats

Nolan Minessale

Miles Barnstable

Drake Dobbs

Kendall Blue

Players Mentioned

Miles Barnstable

Kendall Blue

Drake Dobbs

Nolan Minessale

Ben Nau

Ben Oosterbaan

University of St. Thomas Athletics