Riley Miller’s last second layup sealed the win and MIAC regular season championship for No. 3-ranked St. Thomas, leading men’s basketball to a 74-72 win over St. Mary’s University at Schoenecker Arena Saturday.
With just ten minutes left in the game, the Tommies (23-2, 19-1 MIAC) were down 19 to a team they haven’t lost to since January of ‘88. The Cardinals (13-12, 10-10 MIAC) have lost to St. Thomas 36 consecutive times.
“I thought they really played together with great energy and composure which aren’t easy things to balance when you’re down 19,” coach John Tauer said.
Junior guard Burt Hedstrom had the only double-double for the Tommies, including three 3-pointers.
“That was definitely one of the crazier games I’ve ever been a part of,” Hedstrom said. “It’s just a testament to the group of guys we have; we’re just constantly looking at each other, never doubting ourselves.”
With 50 seconds left, Hedstrom was sent to the free-throw line where he made both shots, making it a one-possession game.
A steal by sophomore guard Kevin Cunningham put the ball in senior guard Thomas Madison’s hands, resulting in a flagrant foul by St. Mary’s first-year guard Raheem Anthony.
“Our coaches want us to put pressure and disrupt the other team,” Cunningham said. “Even if you don’t get the steal, they feel the pressure and maybe rush their possession.”
Injured following the foul, Madison subbed out of the game and sophomore guard Zach Theisen was put on the line where he made both free throws. This tied the game with 12 seconds remaining. The Tommies retained possession which led to Miller’s game-winning shot.
“At the end of the game, I thought our guys just managed the clock really well,” Tauer said.
Prior to the game, St. Thomas honored four seniors: Thomas Madison, Elijah Hannah, Nathan Stenger and Tommy Anderson.
St. Thomas shares the regular season MIAC championship with St. John’s. A coin flip decided who received the No. 1 seed of the tournament between the Tommies and the Johnnies. St. Thomas is seeded No. 2 in the MIAC tournament after losing the coin flip.
They will host the higher-seeded winner of Tuesday’s games at 7 p.m. Thursday at Schoenecker Arena.
“Entering the playoffs is a new season where everybody’s record is 0-0,” Tauer said. “We’re off tomorrow and then it’s get back to work on Monday.”
Kat Barrett can be reached at barr1289@stthomas.edu.
Carly Noble can be reached at nobl1781@stthomas.edu.