Feb 16, 2015
Junior center Jimmy Remke came off the bench to record 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead No. 2-ranked St. Thomas to a 66-49 victory over No. 15-ranked St. Olaf in Monday's MIAC men's basketball play at UST's Schoenecker Arena.
The Tommies (21-2 overall, 16-2 MIAC) secured a tie for the MIAC crown, ran their home record to 11-0, and grabbed the No. 1 seed for the six-team conference playoffs.
St. Thomas can win the championship outright with one victory in its remaining home games -- Wednesday night vs. Bethel, and Saturday afternoon vs. Hamline.
It's the 10th consecutive season St. Thomas has won or shared the conference title in men's hoops.
St. Olaf's has a slim shot to share the crown but needs a win Wednesday at home against Concordia-Moorhead in its regular-season finale, plus two UST defeats.
St. Thomas shot 56 percent in the first half (15-of-27) and used a 20-6 run en route to a 35-17 halftime lead.
The Oles (20-4, 15-4) had only five turnovers on the game but never pulled closer than 14 points in the second half. Their 49 points were a season low.
St. Olaf ranks among the national leaders in field-goal shooting at 50 percent but converted just 24 percent in the first half (7-of-29) and 32 percent on the game.
Caleb Lunning had 12 points, and Sterling Nielsen added 10 points and seven assists for the Oles.
In rebounding from Saturday's 72-66 road loss at Concordia, St. Thomas posted a 44-33 rebounding advantage and got seven 3-point baskets from four different players. Marcus Alipate and Taylor Montero each scored 10 points; Grant Shaeffer had nine points; and Ryan Saarela had eight points and eight boards.
Conner Nord chipped in six points and five rebounds and became the 32nd Tommie men's player to surpass 1,000 career points. Nord is now at 1,004 points and 596 rebounds.