Tommies start MIAC season with victory

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Senior center Ryan Saarela had 20 points and nine rebounds and the No. 3-ranked Tommies (4-0 overall, 1-0) shot 60 percent from the floor and converted 17-of-19 from the line in Wednesday night's home conference men's basketball victory over Concordia-Moorhead (3-3, 0-1).

Jordan Bolger had 19 points and eight boards for the Cobbers.

The Toms had only seven turnovers and outscored Concordia 27-15 from 3-point range.

Taylor Montero was 4-of-4 from behind the arc and closed with 17 points. Cortez Tillman scored 10, and Grant Shaeffer added nine points and five assists.

The Toms led by 10 at halftime and the Cobbers never got closer than seven in the final half. Tom Fraase's 3-pointer with 10:31 left cut UST's lead to 63-52, but St. Thomas answered with a 12-0 run with points from four different players to take control.

St. Thomas plays Saturday night at home against Carleton, which handed St. John's its first loss of the season Wednesday night in Northfield, 70-64. That game originally set for 1 p.m. will tipoff at 6 p.m. due to the St. Thomas football noon playoff game.