Guard Will DeBerg scored 23 points and was 4-for-5 from outside the arc, as No. 3-ranked St. Thomas overpowered Augsburg 94-52.

The Tommies (11-0, 6-0 MIAC) shot 75 percent from the 3-point line in the first half and shot just over 73 percent for the game. The Auggies (9-1, 4-1 MIAC) converted three of 12 shots from behind the line. St. Thomas’ defense held Augsburg in check, with no Auggie getting more than seven points.

St. Thomas’ outside ball movement and the low-post game led to success in the first half.

DeBerg scored 13 of his 23 points of the game in the first half and said his team helped open the floor to give him scoring opportunities.

“We’ve got so many guys who can score and know their role; it makes it easy,” DeBerg said. “The guys do a good job finding me, and I wouldn’t be able to get open shots if it wasn’t for them.”

Turnovers also played a huge impact in the Tommies’ victory; St. Thomas scored 20 points off Augsburg’s mistakes in the first half.

Coach John Tauer said he slowed St. Thomas’ pace down in the second half by making the offense work the ball around more for easy baskets down low.

Tauer said this win over previously undefeated Augsburg showed that his team has great mentality.

“Augsburg is a really good team and part of it was our guys were focused,” Tauer said. “Mentality. We were locked in for 40 minutes. I’m so very proud of the guys.”

Both teams showed depth when each had 10 players play at least 10 minutes or more in the game.

“We don’t need one guy to score every game,” center Tommy Hannon said. “We like our depth, and any guy can score 15 points any night.”

Tauer said he was impressed with the team’s performance and how they handled this win.

“We try and get a little better every day. We’re always trying to be excellent in everything we do,” Tauer said. “Today, we did a nice job.”

Jesse Krull can be reached at krul7386@stthomas.edu.