Graduate guard Riley Miller surpassed 1,000 career points with his 15-point effort in the St. Thomas men’s basketball team’s 83-61 victory over Chicago State in the Tommies’ home opener Friday at Schoenecker Arena.
The Tommies (1-1) scored the first two baskets of the game and never allowed Chicago State (0-2) to take the lead. When these teams met last season, the Tommies narrowly fell to the Cougars 77-72 in their first Division I game.
“I’m really, really thrilled with the performance tonight, the showing from the crowd, and [I’m] excited for the journey that we’re on in 2022-2023,” coach John Tauer said.
The Tommies’ defense was able to stop the Cougars’ offense, keeping them to just under 38% from the field and 19% from beyond the arc. Despite this, the Cougars were able to cut the lead to 14 just before the half.
“I thought our guys responded well, and you know in basketball, it is a game of runs and I thought we did really well,” Tauer said.
Despite the Cougars’ surge, St. Thomas was in control during the first half, going into halftime with a 38-24 lead behind graduate student Riley Miller’s perfect 3-for-3 from behind the arc.
Despite this, Miller had to work hard against the Cougars’ defense in order to find an open shot.
“I’m trying to get a sliver of space and then use that against them so I can screen and get my teammates open as well,” Miller said.
The Tommies’ defense was also able to keep the Cougars off the glass, outrebounding them 29-17 in defensive rebounds.
First-year forward Ahjany Lee’s 14 points and seven rebounds helped the Tommies maintain a comfortable lead throughout the second half, leading by as many as 22 at one point. A pair of dunks from Lee energized the crowd.
“It felt really good leading up to today,” Lee said. “I don’t know everybody, but they’re still here to support and that means a lot to me.”
Miller reflected on his time at St. Thomas after reaching 1,000 career points against the Cougars.
“I just think coming in my mindset was just to make the team,” Miller said. “Now that that’s come full circle, I never would have thought.”
Tauer hopes to carry what the team has done this game and the Tommies’ season opener against Creighton Monday into the Tommies’ next game.
On Monday, the Tommies took on No. 9 Creighton in Omaha, Nebraska, and first-year guard Andrew Rohde scored his first 15 collegiate points in the team’s 72-60 loss.
The Tommies shot efficiently, shooting 41% for all field goals and almost 41% for 3-pointers, both higher than the Bluejays.
Instead, Creighton was able to put up more shots than the Tommies, also getting to the free-throw line 14 times compared to the Tommies’ four.
The Tommies struggled to protect the ball, allowing the Bluejays to capitalize by scoring 16 points off of turnovers.
St. Thomas managed to gain a one-point advantage midway through the second half after senior forward Brooks Allen sunk a shot from behind the arc, taking a 57-56 lead.
The Bluejays, however, responded with 14 unanswered points, taking a ten-point lead with under three minutes left..
“You’ve got to go to battle against other teams to really learn those tough lessons,” Tauer said. “That’s something I’m really pleased with for the first two games.”
The Tommies return to Schoenecker Arena at 2 p.m. Sunday to take on St. Francis Brooklyn, who the Tommies defeated on the road 91-73 last season.
Adam Mueller can be reached at muel7541@stthomas.edu.
Derek Badger can be reached at badg7629@stthomas.edu.