Dobbs’ 21 points helps Tommies outlast Pioneers, 79-76

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Drake Dobbs came up with late baskets on his way to consecutive 20-point games to lead St. Thomas men's basketball to a 79-76 win at Denver despite leading for less than two minutes of game time. The Tommies (19-7, 9-2 Summit League) overcame a seven-point deficit in each half behind 57.4 percent shooting for the program's 11th 19-win season under head coach Johnny Tauer.

Dobbs, who finished with a game-high 21 points, is the second Tommie with back-to-back 20-point games this season, joining Miles Barnstable who did so during the first two games of the Summit League schedule. Dobbs shot 7-of-13 from the field, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, and 4-of-5 on free throws while adding four rebounds and four assists.

Denver jumped out to a seven-point, 14-7 lead less than six minutes into play and kept it until an 8-1 run by St. Thomas to end the first half. Nolan Minessale, who finished as one of four Tommies in double figure scoring, added all four of his first half points during the run to take a 38-37 lead into halftime.

An 8-0 run by the Pioneers pushed the lead back to seven that again lasted until the final minute of game play. After tying the game twice on a 3-pointer by Barnstable and a hook shot from Kendall Blue, Dobbs converted a tough shot outside the paint with the shot clock winding down for the Tommies' first lead since halftime, 76-74.

Minessale answered DU's game-tying layup with a dunk assisted by Dobbs before blocking the ensuing Denver shot and pulling down the rebound with 24 seconds to play. Minessale made three of four free throw attempts over the final seconds to finish with 14 points and seal the Purple's seventh road win of the season, tied for the most road victories in the Summit League this season.

TOMMIE TIDBITS

St. Thomas has now won 19 games in a season 11 times and nine conference games 12 times in 14 seasons under head coach Johnny Tauer. Two of the seasons without 19 total wins included the COVID 2020-21 season and the inaugural Division I season in 2021-22.
The Tommies' 19th win last season came against Denver during the regular season finale on March 2, 2024 while the 19th win of 2022-23 came against Western Illinois to open the Summit League Championship on March 5, 2023.
The least amount of time St. Thomas has led during a win this season was just over 13 minutes during its 73-72 victory over South Dakota State. The last time the Tommies led for less than two minutes and won was Nov. 18, 2022 when it led for 1:29 during its 78-76 victory over Troy at the Zootown Classic in Missoula, Mont.
St. Thomas shot 60.9 percent (14-23) from the field in the first half, the 10th time doing so in a half this season. The Tommies are now 8-0 in games when shooting at least 60 percent in a half this season.
Dobbs has scored at least 20 points in back-to-back games, totaling 21 against Denver after setting a career high 23 Feb. 6 at South Dakota State. He's the second Tommie to do so this season, joining Miles Barnstable who scored 20 points during the Summit League opener Jan. 2 at North Dakota State and 30 points Jan. 4 at North Dakota. Prior to Barnstable, Andrew Rohde was the last Tommie to record back-to-back 20-point games, doing so in three straight games to end the 2022-23 season.
Saturday was the third time Dobbs has led the Tommies in scoring this season and the first win when doing so.
Four Tommies recorded at least 10 points for the second straight game, the seventh such streak of at least two games for the team this season. St. Thomas began the season with four straight games of double figure scoring by at least four players, its only such streak of more than two games.
Nolan Minessale finished with 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting, going 6-of-8 from the free throw line, and tied Dobbs for the team lead of four rebounds. Minessale and Denver's Sebastian Akins are two of the Summit League's top three true freshmen scorers as Akins led the Pioneers with 19 points.
Carter Bjerke finished with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including 10 points on 4-of-6 field goals coming in the second half.

UP NEXT
St. Thomas returns to Schoenecker Arena for its lone game of the week on Saturday, Feb. 15 as it hosts Omaha, who is the only team ahead of the Tommies in the Summit League standings. St. Thomas will be hosting Beach Night as part of its Early Spring Break week with women's basketball where the first 250 students will receive a Tommie Hawaiian-themed shirt.

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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 --

Dobbs’ 21 points helps Tommies outlast Pioneers, 79-76

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Team Stats

Drake Dobbs

Nolan Minessale

Carter Bjerke

Miles Barnstable

Players Mentioned

Miles Barnstable

Carter Bjerke

Kendall Blue

Drake Dobbs

Nolan Minessale

University of St. Thomas Athletics