Senior guard Marcus Alipate scored a career-best 30 points as No. 3-ranked St. Thomas held off host Bethel 80-69 in Monday night's men's basketball game in Arden Hills.

The Tommies (13-1 overall, 8-1 MIAC) have won nine in a row, including a 5-0 run over the last 17 days.

Alipate, playing in his 101st career game, sank six 3-pointers and was 6-of-7 from the foul line.

Senior center Conner Nord scored 12 of his 16 points in the secpnd half and closed with 10 rebounds, six assists and three blocks. Nord also surpassed 900 points on his career.

Sophomore guard Grant Shaeffer cored eight of his nine points in the second half. Off the bench, Cortez Tillman scored nine points and Jimmy Remke chipped in eight boards.

The Tommies had a 43-34 rebounding advantage and recorded only nine turnovers. Bethel had just 10 turnovers but UST managed a 16-5 margin in points off turnovers.

UST never trailed bt the score was ties three times late in the first half. BU pulled within 38-37 early in the second half but two Alipate 3-pointers capped a 12-4 run that pushed the lead to 50-41. The Royals never got closer than five points thereafter.

The Tommies play Wednesday night at St. Olaf in a battle of top-20 teams.