Men's Hoops edges Johnnies 70-69 in OT

W, 70-69 OT
St. John's (M), January 16, 2010

Sophomore center Tommy Hannon scored six of his career-high 14 points in overtime as the fifth-ranked Tommies (12-2 overall, 8-1 MIAC) moved back into a share of the conference lead with Saturday night's 70-69 overtime win over the visiting Johnnies (9-5, 6-3) at CU’s Gangelhoff center.  

The Toms outscored the Johnnies 21-4 at the foul line and had only 12 turnovers to offset 39% field-goal shooting. St. Thomas made its last 10 free-throw tries and converted 21-of-28 overall.

St. Thomas has won seven in a row over the Johnnies and nine in a row in games played in St. Paul. The Toms spoiled Jim Smith's 1,200th game in 46 seasons as Johnnies' head coach and moved back into a tie for the MIAC lead as Gustavus lost 54-52 at Bethel.

UST used a 20-2 run during a late 7:50 stretch of the first half en route to a 37-31 halftime lead.

The Toms never trailed in the second half or overtime. They led 51-37 with 12:29 to go, but SJU closed regulation with a 22-8 run and forced OT on Chris Schwartz' fifth 3-point basket of the game that swished with 16 seconds left. A late shot by UST's Tyler Nicolai at the buzzer rimmed off.  

Nicolai had a game-high 20 points along with five assists and four steals. Alex Healy scored 13 points, and senior guard Joe Scott surpassed 1,000 in his three-year Tommie career with 11 points. Teddy Archer had eight rebounds.

Schwartz finished with a team-high 19 points but went scoreless in overtime.

Andy Burns' 3-point basket with 49 seconds left in OT pulled the Johnnies within 68-66. UST answered with 13 seconds left as Nicolai dished to Hannon for an inside basket and a 70-66 lead. Burns hit another trey with :01 left but time ran out on the inbounds play.

The Johnnies converted 47% from the field. Burns scored 12, Aaron Barmore had 10 and Aaron Burtzel had seven points and 13 rebounds.

To view more Greg Smith action photos, click here:

www.gsmithsports.com

Click here for box score:

http://www.tommiesports.com/mbb/stats/1-16-mbb.htm

Anders Halvorsen (Greg Smith photo)

Alex Healy (Greg Smith photo)

Joe Scott (Greg Smith photo)

Tyler Nicolai (Greg Smith photo)

Teddy Archer (Greg Smith photo)

Tommy Hannon (Greg Smith photo)