Senior guard Grant Shaeffer scored 16 points and the host Tommies (12-4 overall, 8-3 MIAC) moved back into a three-way share of the conference lead with an 80-64 home victory over Augsburg (7-9, 5-6) Saturday in Schoenecker Arena.

St. Thomas has won eight of its last nine games.

St. John's started the day atop the MIAC but lost 73-58 at Carleton and fell into a tie with the Tommies and Bethel with nine games to go. Hamline is one game back.

Michael Hannon added 14 points off the bench. UST had a 43-27 rebounding edge, led by Jordan Burich's 12 boards. UZST also knocked down 20-of-23 free throws to just 13-of-18 form the Auggies.

UST never trailed and used a 13-3 run to help secure a 39-27 halftime lead. The Auggies never got closer than 10 in the second half.

The Tommie defense helped slow Collin Olmscheid, the MIAC's No. 2 scorer. Olmscheid was coming off a 43-point scoring game three days earlier and came in averaging 21.1 ppg, but scored only seven points with eight rebounds on a 3-of-12 shooting day.

St. Thomas plays Wednesday at Macalester.