Buri leads late comeback, men's hoops wins 64-60

January 16, 2001
Mon. Jan. 15, 2001

MIAC Men's Basketball
at St. Thomas

Univ. of St. Thomas 64
Macalester College 60


Tommies tip Mac as Mark Buri leads late comeback


Junior guard Mark Buri scored 11 of his game-high 21 points during a game-closing 16-8 run as host St. Thomas (10-3 overall, 6-3 MIAC) escaped with a 64-60 victory over Macalester (5-6, 3-5) in MIAC men's basketball Monday in Schoenecker Arena.

Mike Wrobel added 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Kevin Fitzgerald and Mychal Brenden each scored 11 points for St. Thomas. Both teams made 23-of-48 (.479) from the field.

The Scots, trying to win in Schoenecker Arena for the first time in 13 seasons, were hurt by 11 second-half turnovers. Ryan Gerry had 14 points, Doug Benson had 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Ben Van Thorre scored 10 for for Macalester.

The Toms, who won their third game in a row, led just 61-60 with 28 seconds to go when Buri made both ends of a 1-and-1 free-throw situation for a 63-60 lead. Wrobel made one of two free throws with :18 to go.

The Toms used a 13-0 run to close the first half with a 32-22 lead. Macalester answered with an 11-1 run to open the second half for a 33-33 deadlock.

After UST built a 48-40 lead with 9:33 to play, Gerry's 3-pointer with 6:29 left capped a 12-0 run for a 52-48 Macalester lead.

Buri's 3-pointer with 5:25 left started the Tommie comeback, and he came back with a spinning bank shot with 3:25 left that tied the score 55-55. Brenden put the Toms ahead to stay with a driving basket and a 57-55 lead with 2:45 left, and Buri's steal and layup pushed the lead to 59-55 with 2:02 left.

The Scots pulled within 61-58 on Chris Palm's 3-pointer with :48 left, and made it 61-60 with :32 to go on Van Thorre's inside basket. But Buri sank two free thows with :28 left to deny the Scots.

see box score here