An outstanding defensive second half performance from Elijah Hannah Saturday at Schoenecker Arena helped the St. Thomas men’s basketball team defeat No. 7 Wisconsin-Stevens Point 73-57.

The Tommies (8-1 overall, 4-0 MIAC) improved their win streak to eight while handing the Pointers (6-2 overall, 0-0 WIAC) their second loss of the season.

“I’m incredibly proud of the guys tonight,” coach John Tauer said. “I thought our defense played fantastic … when you play that tough together, good things happen.”

Both teams battled back and forth early on, and the Tommies held a one point lead at half.

WIth nine minutes left in the second half, forward Tommy Anderson hit a three-pointer to put the Tommies up 55-47 over the Pointers, their largest lead of the game up to that point.

“I keep battling and just want to do whatever I can to help the team,” Anderson said. “Everybody from the guy who plays the most to the guy who’s at the end of the bench, we’re all working hard every day in practice and tonight it paid off.”

Tommie guard Michael Hannon led the team in scoring, ending the night with 20 points. Pointer forward Brett Tauber and guard Drew Fredrickson led the opposition with 13.

St. Thomas now averages 82.8 points per game and shoots 49.7 percent from the field for the season.

Tauer said the game is one of the biggest wins of the season so far, and that the team looks forward to the game every year. The Tommies are 4-1 in their past five meetings with the Pointers, most recently a 73-64 loss last year.

The team plays 10 games in 29 days through January following the end-of-semester break. They return to Schoenecker Arena Jan. 2 to face off against Gustavus Adolphus and to defend their undefeated home streak.

You can reach Jacob Schneider at schn6923@stthomas.edu.