All-American guard Tyler Nicolai scored 21 points, including a key 3-pointer that ignited a 19-6 game-closing run, to lift the No. 4-ranked Tommies (13-0 overall, 8-0 MIAC) past the host Cobbers (8-5, 4-4) in Wednesday night's conference men's basketball game in Moorhead.

The Tommies ratained their 1.5-game lead on second-place Carleton in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference race. UST also snapped Concordia's five-game win streak.

UST ran its road win streak to 13 and its regular-season victory string to 25.

Six different St. Thomas players scored during the late 19-6 run in the last 5:31 on the clock. It was the Tommies' ninth second-half comeback victory in their 13-0 start.

Concordia took a 55-50 lead on John Fraase's jumper with 7:49 left. Teddy Archer's basket and a trey by Nicolai tied the score, and Alex Healy's 3-pointer with 4:19 left put UST ahead to stay. The Toms made 5-of-6 at the foul line in the last

St. Thomas had just 12 turnovers and outrebounded the Cobbers 35-25. Healy closed with 13 points and three assists; Will DeBerg scored 11; Tommy Hannon had six points and eight rebounds; and Brady Ervin had five points, five rebounds and three steals.

Fraase led the Cobbers with 13 points and six rebounds.

St. Thomas has a Saturday bye and plays Monday night at Hamline.