Senior guard Cortez Tillman scored all of his game-high 18 points in the second half and Ryan Saarela added 14 points and 15 rebounds as No. 4-ranked St. Thomas pulled away late for Saturday's 75-59 men's basketball victory at Bethel.

The Tommies (21-2 overall, 16-2 MIAC) secured the outright championship and top seed for the six-team conference playoffs for the 11th year in a row.

In bouncing back from Wednesday's nine-point loss at Augsburg that halted a 16-game winning streak, UST improved to 11-1 in road games this season.

St. Thomas, which shot 57 percent on the game, broke to a 36-20 halftime lead. Bethel surged within 52-46 with 8:53 remaining, but Tillman scored 14 points during a decisive 20-6 run over the next 5:57 that pushed the lead to 18.

Taylor Montero scored 15 points to move to 993 on his career. Saarela recorded his ninth doube double, and Jimmy Remke scored 16 points off the bench.

The Toms play Wednesday at second-place St. Olaf, and close the regular season at home Feb. 20 against St. Mary's.