The Library Media — Sports · Sports Desk
Army Edges St. Thomas 79-77 on Late Three
By Piper Rampage
Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Damon J. Moritz / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
WEST POINT, N.Y. — Army held off St. Thomas 79-77 at Christl Arena, with a late three-pointer providing the winning margin in a game that stayed close through the final possession.
Army improved to 2-2, while St. Thomas fell to 2-3.
St. Thomas held a 39-35 advantage at halftime. Army outscored the Tommies 44-38 in the second half to turn the four-point halftime deficit into a two-point win.
Hayden Tibbits led all scorers with a career-high 21 points for St. Thomas. Tibbits shot 7-of-10 from the field, including 4-of-6 from three-point range, and recorded a game-high six assists without committing a turnover.
Carter Bjerke and Jeremy Lorenz each added 10 points for St. Thomas. Lorenz also finished with a game-high eight rebounds.
Army’s offense was led by Kevin McCarthy, who scored 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting and made four three-pointers. Dillon Watt added 16 points, while Ryan Curry and Tate Laczkowski each scored 11. Jaden Ellis finished with 10 points.
Army shot 51.7% from the field, while St. Thomas shot 57.1%.
The decisive sequence came in the final 90 seconds. Tibbits made free throws to put St. Thomas ahead 77-76 with 1:31 remaining. Watt then made a three-pointer at 1:11, giving Army a 79-77 lead that held through the final possession.
St. Thomas could not find the tying or winning basket in the closing seconds, and Army secured the two-point victory at home.
Piper Rampage
Men’s College Basketball, The Library Media
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