Junior Taylor Montero sank a career-high 29 points and the host Tommies became just the third Division III basketball program to reach 1,600 victories with Saturday's 89-62 defeat of Hamline in MIAC play at Schoenecker Arena.

The No. 3-ranked Tommies (22-3 overall, 17-3 MIAC) secured a solo league championship, one game ahead of runner-up St. Olaf (16-4). It's the 10th conference title in a row for UST.

St. Thomas joins Ohio schools Wittenberg and Wooster as the lone programs with 1,600 or more all-time victories.

The Toms closed the first half on a 22-8 run to take a 40-27 halftime lead. They used a 19-3 second-half run to pull away.

UST shot 53 percent from the field, had a 45-29 rebounding advantage, and had only seven turnovers. Montero scored 15 points as he made six consecutive shots during a 5:31 stretch of the second half.

Conner Nord had 10 points and 10 rebounds; Marcus Alipate and Jimmy Remke each chipped in 11 points; and Will Dunn scored a career-high eight points on 4-of-4 shooting.

Zach Smith led Hamline with 14 points.

The Tommies are in the conference playoffs for the 15th consecutive season. They have a first-round bye and will play either Bethel, Concordia, or Gustavus, the 4-5-6 seeds, on Friday night in the semifinal round.