Box Score

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Saint John's took No. 5 St. Thomas to overtime but could not hold on in a 70-69 loss on Saturday, Jan. 16, at the Gangelhoff Center on the campus of Concordia-St. Paul.

The Johnnies (9-5, 6-3 MIAC) ended regulation with a 22-8 run to force overtime. A three-pointer by junior Chris Schwartz (Sioux Falls, S.D./Lincoln), his fifth of the game, tied it at 59-59 with 16 seconds left.

Schwartz led SJU with a season-high 19 points, while sophomores Andy Burns (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) and Aaron Barmore (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) and 12 and 10 points, respectively. Junior Aaron Barmore (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori) seven points (3-3 shooting) and 13 rebounds.

Tyler Nicolai led UST (12-2, 8-1 MIAC) with 20 points, while Tommy Hannon scored a career-high 14 points, six of which came in overtime.

The Tommies used a 20-2 run late in the first half en route to a 37-31 halftime lead. UST, however, shot just 25.9 percent (7-27) in the second half to the Johnnies' even 50 percent (11-22) from the field.

Burns' three-point basket with 49 seconds left in overtime pulled the Johnnies within 68-66. UST answered with 13 seconds left as Nicolai dished to Hannon for an inside basket and a 70-66 lead. Burns hit another trey with :01 left but time ran out on the inbounds play.

The difference was found at the free-throw line. SJU made four of its eight attempts at the charity stripe, but UST was 21-for-28.

The loss spoiled SJU head coach Jim Smith's 1,200th career game.

SJU returns to action Monday, Jan. 18, against Gustavus Adolphus. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Sexton Arena in Collegeville.