Janowski matches program record as Tommies outgun North Dakota on the road

GRAND FORKS, N.D. — Nick Janowski delivered a career night and St. Thomas men's basketball continued its torrid offensive stretch Thursday night, as the Tommies (15-4, 4-0 Summit League) knocked off North Dakota (9-12, 3-2 Summit League), 91-80, behind a program Division I-era record-tying 32-point performance and extended their winning streak to nine games in Grand Forks.

FIRST HALF: St. Thomas opened the night in rhythm, knocking down its first four 3-pointers - two from Nolan Minessale - and quickly seized control with a 14-2 run over nearly four minutes. Back-to-back 3s from Minessale ignited the surge, capped when Carter Bjerke's block led to a Nick Janowski fast-break triple, forcing a North Dakota timeout and pushing the Tommies in front, 17-5, with 15:24 to play.

The early momentum stalled as turnovers piled up. Despite hitting 6-of-8 shots during one stretch, St. Thomas gave away 10 turnovers over nine minutes, allowing UND to climb back and briefly take a 25-23 lead. Janowski snapped a seven-minute field-goal drought with a step-back 3-pointer, then added a layup off a steal as the lead changed hands three times late. Two 3-pointers from Austin Herro helped the Tommies carry a slim 37-36 advantage into the break. St. Thomas shot 63.2 percent overall and 63.6 percent from deep in the half, but UND converted 17 points off 13 Tommie turnovers to stay close. Janowski led all scorers with 15 first-half points on a perfect 6-of-6 shooting.

SECOND HALF: Both teams opened the half cold before North Dakota grabbed the lead on a second-chance tip-in. Janowski responded with his third 3-pointer to reclaim the advantage, and after an UND and-one tied it at 44-44, Herro jump-started a key 7-2 run with a coast-to-coast steal and layup. Janowski capped the spurt with another triple to reach his fifth 20-point game of the season and give St. Thomas a 51-46 cushion.

Janowski continued to pour it on, drilling his fifth 3-pointer and later tying the program's Division I-era single-game record with his seventh triple to push the lead to double figures. Bjerke added two timely 3s to keep UND at bay before Minessale closed the door, scoring eight straight points to stretch the margin to 15 late. St. Thomas finished strong for a 91-80 road victory, holding UND scoreless off just two Tommie turnovers in the second half.

TOMMIE TIDBITS

Nick Janowski scored a career-high 32 points on 11-of-16 shooting, including 7-of-9 from 3-point range, and tied for the team lead with five rebounds as he matched the program's Division I-era single-game scoring record of 32, previously set by Nolan Minessale, Bjorklund and Anthony, marking the ninth 30-point game of the DI era after opening Summit League play with 31 points against Denver and recording his fifth 20-point game of the season.
Nolan Minessale finished with 27 points on 8-of-13 shooting, posting his nation-leading 15th 20-point game of the season and 17th of his career while scoring 18 of his points in the second half.
Austin Herro totaled nine points, 10 assists and a program Division I-era record seven steals, recording just the second 10-assist game of the DI era with seven of his assists coming in the second half.
St. Thomas shot above 60 percent in both halves for the first time since a Dec. 4, 2024, road win at Northern Colorado, marking the second time in the past three games the Tommies have shot 66.7 percent in a half and the sixth time this season they have eclipsed 60 percent shooting in a half.
The Tommies extended their winning streak to nine games and improved to 4-0 in Summit League play for the second straight season, matching the program's longest stretch of at least nine wins since spanning the end of the 2019-20 season and the shortened 2020-21 campaign.
St. Thomas has scored at least 80 points in each of its nine consecutive wins, including five 90-point performances during the 2025-26 season.
The Tommies committed 15 turnovers, their most since 16 on Nov. 15 during a win at SEMO, with 13 of Thursday's turnovers coming in the first half.

UP NEXT
The win sets up a matchup of undefeated teams in Summit League play as St. Thomas travels to Fargo, N.D., on Saturday, Jan. 17 for a 1 p.m. tip-off against North Dakota State (15-5, 5-0 Summit League).

FOLLOW ALONG
For more information on St. Thomas Men's Basketball, follow along on X at @TommieMBBall and Instagram at @tommiehoops. Tommie Athletics is now on TikTok at @tommiesports.

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-- St. Thomas Athletics --

Janowski matches program record as Tommies outgun North Dakota on the road

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Team Stats

Nick Janowski

Nolan Minessale

Austin Herro

Carter Bjerke

Players Mentioned

Carter Bjerke

Austin Herro

Nick Janowski

Nolan Minessale

University of St. Thomas Athletics