St. Thomas (FL) improved to 16-5 on the season with a hard-fought 74-69 win over South Dakota State at the Lee & Penny Anderson Arena. The Tommies were led by Nick Janowski, who scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds, while Carter Bjerke matched Janowski's point total to help St. Thomas secure the victory. The win was predicted by CHD Scout, who had St. Thomas (FL) winning by 7.9 points, and although the margin was slightly narrower, the prediction held true.
The first half was a closely contested affair, with St. Thomas taking a slim 33-32 lead into the break. South Dakota State's Joe Sayler was unstoppable in the opening period, scoring 15 of his game-high 24 points to keep the Jackrabbits within striking distance. However, St. Thomas's balanced attack, which saw three players score in double figures, ultimately proved too much for South Dakota State to handle.
In the second half, St. Thomas began to pull away, using a 10-2 run to build a 51-42 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining. South Dakota State refused to go quietly, though, and a series of three-pointers from Matthew Mors and Damon Wilkinson helped the Jackrabbits trim the deficit to just two points with 4:30 left to play. But St. Thomas's Nolan Minessale responded with a crucial three-pointer of his own, and the Tommies were able to close out the game from the free-throw line.
CHD Scout Report Card
CORRECTPredicted
Final
Janowski and Bjerke were the stars of the show for St. Thomas, combining for 42 points on 15-25 shooting from the field. Sayler, meanwhile, was the lone bright spot for South Dakota State, adding five rebounds to his 24 points. The loss drops the Jackrabbits to 10-11 on the season, and while they battled hard, they were ultimately unable to overcome the balanced attack of St. Thomas.
The win is a Quadrant 4 victory for St. Thomas, which may not significantly boost their tournament resume but does help to pad their win total. For South Dakota State, the loss is a Quadrant 2 defeat, which could have implications for their own postseason hopes. As it stands, St. Thomas (FL) remains in a strong position, with a 16-5 record and a NET ranking of 117. The Tommies want to build on this momentum as they continue through their schedule, while South Dakota State will aim to bounce back from the tough loss.