Junior guard Anders Nelson scored 28 points and snagged nine assists for St. Thomas’s undefeated men’s basketball team at their last home game Saturday, leading to a 84-66 victory over the Bethel Royals at Schoenecker Arena.
This game was also the Tommies’ (4-0) last Division III home game, and second to last game as a Division III team. Nelson praised the teams ability to adapt to changing circumstances in the game.
“We played pretty solid defense throughout the game,” Nelson said, “At halftime we came into the locker room and we knew we needed to make a few adjustments, but really just keep our tempo up and play our play style and try to wear those guys out by the end of the game.”
Junior forward Parker Bjorklund scored 10 points during the first half, and then another three in the second half. Bjorklund, who is wrapping up his first year on the team, had mixed feelings about the season coming to a close.
“It’s great to play for the team. It’s our last home game in the MIAC so it’s kind of a big deal,” Bjorklund said.
The Tommies came into the 2nd half with a 10 point lead and kept that momentum until the end. The Tommies kept their lead for 36 minutes, ending the game with 18 points over the Royals. Coach John Tauer saw the final score as a testament to his player’s skill.
“I think it’s a product, a product of skilled, smart, tough players who are willing to share the ball. To me, it’s just a fun way to play basketball,” Tauer said.
Royals (3-3) senior forward Isiah Carver-Bagley put up a fight in the second half, contributing 13 points to the Royals point total.
The Tommies have won 21 out of their last 22 games since early January 2020. The Tommies also now have an eight-game home winning streak that continues from last season.
The Royals fought hard against the Tommies, but only managed to score four points from turnovers.
“I think it was just our unselfishness and our ability to take care of the ball,” Nelson said. “When you see 20 assists and two turnovers, that’s pretty much unheard of. You don’t see that in the NBA, and you don’t see that at a lot of college schools.”
Tauer echoed Nelson’s sentiment and praised the team’s ability to work together.
“Our seniors today have been so incredible for our program and oftentimes do all the dirty work that doesn’t always get recognized,” Tauer said.
With one game this weekend under their belt, the Tommies are set to play at Gustavus tomorrow, March 7, for their last game of the season.
“Obviously, the game plan will be a little different to cater to personnel, but the way we play on offense and the pace we want to play at is all pretty similar going game to game,” junior guard Riley Miller said.
Tauer says that the back-to-back games are tough and not recommended, but they remind him of the championship season. However, Tauer knows that his team is up for it.
“All through this year, I think our guys have been really good during tough times,” Tauer said. “Rolling with whatever comes, whether that was a shutdown in the state or practicing social distancing, or not being able to play one-on-one, as I coach that makes me really proud of them, because it has not been an easy year for any of us in the world.”
Nelson admits that playing back-to-back games is not done often in college competition, but knows what his teammates need to bring tomorrow in order to play their best.
“I think we need to come in with intensity, knowing that this is for sure our last game of the year, and we’re gonna be on the road, so we’re gonna need even a little more of that tomorrow,” Nelson said.
Owen Larson can be reached at lars6521@stthomas.edu.