Box ScoreCOLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – No. 6 St. Thomas shot 62.5 percent (10-for-16) from three-point range in an 85-73 win over Saint John's on Wednesday, Jan. 13, in Sexton Arena.
The Johnnies (10-3, 5-3 MIAC) controlled the paint, out-scoring the Tommies (12-1, 7-1 MIAC) 36-16 down low and posted a 37-35 edge in rebounds, but UST totaled a 19-5 scoring advantage off turnovers and the home team shot only 38.7 percent (12-for-31) in the second half, including 18.8 percent (3-for-16) from behind the arc.
UST made seven of its nine three-point attempts and shot 55.2 percent (16-for-29) from the field to take a 44-40 lead into halftime. SJU had a nine-point lead (33-24) with 5:04 left in the first half, but the Tommies made seven of their final nine shot attempts, including a 4-for-4 performance from three-point land, to close the half on a 20-7 run.
The Johnnies trailed by as little as three (49-46) with just over four minutes expired in the second half, but UST went on a 17-5 run and never surrendered a double-digit lead the rest of the way.
Senior guard
Alex Schmitt (Waconia, Minn.) led SJU with 22 points, while sophomore post
Tyler Weiss (Shakopee, Minn.) tallied his fourth double-double of the season with 18 points and 14 rebounds. The 18 points tied a career high, while the 14 boards set a new career mark.
Taylor Montero led UST with 25 points on nine of 11 shooting, including a perfect 5-for-5 showing from three-point range. Cortez Tillman added 18 points and Grant Shaeffer chipped in 15. Ryan Saarela collected 11 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks. UST's starters combined to shoot 10 of 12 from behind the arc. The Tommies, however, shot only 57.6 percent (19-for-33) at the free-throw line.
The Johnnies play host to Augsburg for a 3 p.m. game on Saturday, Jan. 16, in Collegeville.
