John Nance and Tommy Hannon each scored 16 points to lead five players scoring in double figures as St. Thomas stormed to its first NCAA men's basketball championship with Saturday's 78-54 victory over Wooster (Ohio) in Salem, Va.

The Toms, who shot 54% from the floor, 18-of-20 at the foul line and had only nine turnovers, became the first conference men's basketball team to claim an NCAA championship.

The 24-point win tied a record for margin in a Division III men's championship game. UW-Stevens Point topped Rochester 73-49 in the 2005 final.

It's the 14th national team title for St. Thomas won by its seventh different sport. UST has previously won NCAA crowns in men's and women's cross country; women's basketball; men's indoor track and field; baseball; and softball. 

Coach Steve Fritz' No. 8-ranked Tommies (30-3) beat four top-seven ranked teams in the last nine days of the season. The Tommies held the final three -- Augustana, Middlebury and Wooster -- under 60 points each.

St. Thomas won its last 12 games of the season and closed out an 8-0 postseason run. The Tommies improved to 20-0 in Saturday games over the last two seasons. 

Big First-Half Run

Wooster (31-3) trailed 43-26 at halftime, then fell behind by 20 as Alex Healy converted a three-point play. But the Scots used a 10-0 run to climb within 10 just minutes into the second half.

The Tommies answered with a 7-0 run and regained control, and Wooster could never pull closer than 14 over the final 15:00. UST had a 37-15 advanatge in points off turnovers.

Wooster broke to an 11-2 lead but the Toms used hot outside shooting and pressure defense to counter with a 34-5 run for a 36-16 lead with 5:00 left in the first half. The Scots went 8:00 without a field goal. St. Thomas had only three turnovers and sank 7-of-10 3-pointers in the first 20:00.

The Tommies posted a 84-53 victory at Wooster in November 2009. On Saturday, they displayed a similar ability to use tempo and defense to puzzle the Scots.

Hannon converted 7-of-8 from the floor and added seven rebounds and five assists. Healy had 15 points and four assists; Nicolai closed with 11; Anders Halvorsen had 10; and Brady Ervin had six points, three assists and three rebounds off the bench. UST had a 24-12 edge in bench scoring.

Ian Franks had 22 points to lead the Scots, who had 18 turnovers and shot 41% from the floor. Wooster was outscored 24-12 from 3-point range.

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http://www.woosterathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2010-11/files/woom0319.htm