SHERMAN, Texas -- In a game of runs, it was University of St. Thomas that made the last one, closing out the contest by scoring 19 of the game's final 25 points to pull away from Trinity University and take a hard-fought 77-58 SCAC title game victory Sunday afternoon on the campus of Austin College. Official Tournament Website | Photo Gallery | Postgame Interview
The championship is the second consecutive for the St. Thomas men's program, which completes it season with a 22-5 mark. The Celts, who are in their third year of provisional NCAA membership, are not yet eligible for postseason play.
As the league's highest seeded team entering the tournament who is eligible for the NCAA tournament, Trinity (22-5), despite Sunday's loss, will receives the SCAC's automatic bid to the national tournament. The Tigers will await news of their first round opponent when brackets are announced on Monday.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- St. Thomas controlled the first half, as junior guard Andrew Nguyen opened the game hitting his first five three-point attempts. The Celts extended their lead to 22 (42-20) with a Juan Hood three-pointer with 1:13 remaining in the half. The Tigers, however, fought back, scoring the final six points of the half culminating on a deep three-pointer off a set piece by Jacob Harvey at the buzzer to cut the Celts' halftime lead to 42-26.
- Continuing on its run out of the lockerroom, Trinity scored the first 10 points of the second half, extending its run to 16-0, to cut the St. Thomas lead to six at 42-36 with 14:47 remaining in the game.
- St. Thomas answered back, breaking the scoreless string on a jumper by Freddie Ricks III and then going on an 11-0 run of its own, extending its lead back out to 53-36 with 12:11 remaining.
- Trinity had one more run left in the tank, and the Tigers scored the 16 of the games' next 22 points, capped with a three-pointer by Jordan Lippman, to once again get within six at 58-52 with 5:47 remaining.
- That would be as close as Trinity, managing just two field goals down the stretch, and St. Thomas pulled away with the 77-58 win.
- St. Thomas shot 46.6 percent (27-58) from the field, which included sinking 15 of 33 (45.4 percent) from long-range. The 15 made three-pointers ties the SCAC Tournament single-game record, equaling the number set by Birmingham-Southern in a 2012 game against Dallas.
- The best shooting team in the league, Trinity was held to 30.2 percent (19-63) for the game, its lowest output of the season. The Tigers also struggled from distance, hitting on just four of 27 attempts (14.8 percent).
- Despite their shooting woes, Trinity did get the better of St. Thomas down low, outscoring the Celts 30-19 in the paint.
- Christian Alaekwe: 21 points, 11 rebounds, three steals, two assists
- Cameron Gims: 11 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, two blocks
- Andrew Nguyen: 15 points, four assists
- Freddie Ricks III: seven points, six assists
- Jacob Harvey: 20 points, three rebounds
- Enzo Sechi: 12 points, five rebounds, two assists
- Tanner Brown: eight points, eight rebounds, two steals
- St. Thomas' Christian Alaekwe was named the Tournament MVP. Joining Alaekwe on the All-Tournament Team were teammates Cameron Gims and Freddie Ricks III. Trinity's Enzo Sechi and Jacob Harvey also earned All-Tournament nods as did Schreiner University's Kamden Ross. The all-tournament nods were the second for Alaekwe, Gims and Sechi.
- The Celts have won a piece of the SCAC men's championship each of if its first three years in the league. UST won the regular season title in 2019-20 in its first year participating in the conference, the tournament crown last season and both the regular season and tournament titles this season.
- St. Thomas ends the season with a 22-5 overall mark while Trinity falls to 22-5.
