St. Thomas University reclaimed its momentum in men’s basketball with a commanding 99-64 victory over Kansas City on March 15, 2024, at home in St. Paul. The Tommies, who recently had their impressive 28-game home winning streak interrupted by North Dakota, bounced back with a decisive win. They established a significant lead early in the game, dominating with a 27-point advantage by halftime.
The Tommies surged ahead with a 15-2 run, setting the tone for the match just over seven minutes into the first half. This early advantage left Kansas City struggling to keep pace throughout the game. Carter Bjerke showcased his exceptional shooting ability, scoring 30 points, which included an impressive ten three-pointers. His performance tied the St. Thomas all-time single-game record for three-pointers made and marked the highest total in the program’s Division-I era. Bjerke’s previous single-game high was six triples, achieved last season, and he is currently shooting an impressive 46% from beyond the arc this season.
In addition to Bjerke’s standout performance, Nick Janowski contributed significantly with 16 points on 6 for 9 shooting. Teammates Nolan Minessale and Jermaine Coleman also made notable contributions, each scoring in double figures. Austin Herro facilitated the offense with eight assists, helping the team to shoot 56% overall from the field. The victory not only improved St. Thomas’s record to 18 wins and 6 losses, with a 7-2 standing in the Summit League, but also positioned them in a tie for second place in the conference, two games behind North Dakota State.
Kansas City, struggling with a record of 4-19 and having lost eight consecutive games, made headlines of its own with the announcement of hiring Mark Turgeon, the former coach of Maryland, who will take over the program next season. Turgeon has not coached since 2021 and will aim to revitalize Kansas City’s basketball efforts.
In their next match, St. Thomas will face South Dakota State on March 18, 2024, in Brookings, South Dakota, as they look to continue their winning streak and strengthen their position in the conference standings. The Tommies are poised to build on their recent success and capitalize on the momentum generated from their performance against Kansas City.
