St. Thomas junior Anders Nelson scored 23 points and was 10 of 16 from the field as he led the No. 7 Tommies to a 76-64 victory over No. 5 St. John’s University Wednesday at Schoenecker Arena after four consecutive postponements due to COVID-19 protocols.
Last season, St. John’s (3-1 overall, 2-1 MIAC) held the upper hand over St. Thomas (3-0 overall, 2-0 MIAC) capturing two out of three wins, but the fourth game set for Collegeville in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols.
“It is a great feeling to go out there and get that win, especially with that opportunity in the national tournament last year,” Nelson said. “They got us in the conference championship and we were looking to get even, and I don’t know about the rest of the guys but I’ve definitely been waiting for this one to settle what we didn’t get to last year.”
After 119 years competing against St. John’s, Wednesday’s matchup was the final time St. Thomas will host the historic rivalry.
With just over 13 minutes remaining in the game, St. Thomas extended their lead to nine after junior guard Riley Miller sized up his defender with the shot clock nearing zero and nailed a 3-pointer.
Miller didn’t reach his 25 point season average coming into Wednesday’s performance, but he shot 50% from the field and finished with 15 points for the Tommies.
“Anders and Riley, I think they are as good as any backcourt in the country,” coach John Tauer said. “I look at the way they control the game and the synergy between them; what they have done over the past three years is really remarkable.”
There were six lead changes in the first half before St. Thomas took control.
St. Thomas has not been defeated in a home opener since 2016 when they lost to Wisconsin-River Falls.
The loudest roar in the fanless arena came from the St. Thomas bench after junior forward Parker Bjorklund threw down a dunk over St. John’s sophomore Mitchell Plombon.
“Usually the coaches don’t want me out on the 3-point line but I had an opportunity, I had an open lane, and I just went with as much power as I could,” Bjorklund said.
He admitted that dunk was his favorite basketball highlight ever.
This is Bjorklund’s first season playing basketball for the Tommies even though he is a junior. He decided to resume playing because he “got a little bored.”
Bjorklund is leading St. Thomas in rebounds with 19 on the year and and third in scoring with 10.7 points per game behind Miller and Nelson.
The Tommies are now outscoring opponents by 70 points this season and have won every game by over ten points.
The Tommies and Johnnies will meet again one week from today in Collegeville.
St. Thomas’ next game is at 2 p.m. Saturday at Augsburg University.
Joey Swanson can be reached at swan5350@stthomas.edu.