St. Thomas (FL) delivered a strong performance on the road, defeating North Dakota 91-80 at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. The Tommies' high-powered offense was on full display, with Nick Janowski leading the charge. The standout player poured in 32 points and grabbed 5 rebounds, setting the tone for his team's convincing victory.
From the outset, it was clear that St. Thomas (FL) was in control. The Tommies took a narrow 37-36 lead into halftime, but they exploded in the second half, scoring 54 points to pull away from the Fighting Hawks. North Dakota's Anthony Smith III did his best to keep his team in the game, scoring 19 points to match teammate Greyson Uelmen's total. However, it wasn't enough to overcome the Tommies' balanced attack.
Janowski's performance was the headline, but he received plenty of support from his teammates. Nolan Minessale chipped in with 27 points, while Austin Herro dished out 10 assists to go along with his 9 points. The Tommies' offense was clicking on all cylinders, and North Dakota struggled to keep pace.
The Fighting Hawks' Eli King contributed 11 points and 6 rebounds, but his team's defensive efforts were ultimately unsuccessful in slowing down the Tommies. As the game wore on, St. Thomas (FL) continued to pull away, building a lead that North Dakota couldn't overcome.
The win improves St. Thomas (FL)'s record to 17-5, while North Dakota falls to 12-12. Although this matchup wasn't a conference game, it still carries significant weight in terms of resume-building for both teams. For North Dakota, the loss represents a Quad 3 defeat, which may impact their tournament chances down the line. On the other hand, St. Thomas (FL) secured a Quad 4 win, which, although not as valuable, still demonstrates their ability to win on the road against a decent opponent.
As the season progresses, St. Thomas (FL) want to build on this performance and continue to bolster their tournament resume. With a current net ranking of 114, they're firmly in the mix for a potential at-large bid. Meanwhile, North Dakota will aim to bounce back from this defeat and make a push for a stronger finish to their season. The Fighting Hawks' net ranking of 270 leaves them with work to do, but they still have time to make a statement and improve their postseason prospects.