Junior guard Grant Shaeffer scored six of his game-high 23 points during a game-closing 9-5 run in the final 4:21 to lead No. 4-ranked St. Thomas past visiting Bethel, 69-66, in Saturday's MIAC men's basketball game in Schoenecker Arena.

The Tommies (10-1 overall, 5-1 MIAC) moved into sole possession of the MIAC lead with the win and St. John's road loss at Concordia-Moorhead.

UST closed the first half on a 6-0 run and led 41-29 at the break. The Toms pushed the lead to 52-38 with 14:59 to go. The Royals (9-2, 4-2) answered with a 23-8 run to take a 61-60 lead on Derek Magnuson's basket and free throw with 4:41 remaining.

The game was tied at 66-66 in the final minute after each team missed on possessions to take the lead. UST's Cortez Tillman drove the lane and sank a runner for a 68-66 lead with 47 seconds to go. After Bethel missed two shots for the tie, Tillman rebounded with 1.3 seconds to go and was fouled. Tillman made the first of two for a three-point lead and missed the second. Bethel rebounded and called time out, but its desperation shot near midcourt off the inbounds heave was blocked.

The Tommies shot 50 percent from the floor and outrebounded Bethel 37-33 but was hurt by 9-of-19 shooting from the line and 2-of-10 shooting behind the arc.

Junior Ryan Johnson scored a career-high 11 points off the bench for UST. Tillman and Ryan Saarela each scored 10. Ryan Boll had eight borads, and Taylor Montero chipped in seven to go with seven points and three assists.

For Bethel, Magnuson finished with 21 points and nine rebounds. Trevor Hall scored 11 points and Brycen Wojta had 10. The Royals only had eight turnovers and sank 9-of-12 foul shots.