Sophomore Joey Shimek had a career-high 23 points and seven rebounds, including 10 points in a game-closing 18-12 run, as sixth-place St. Thomas upset MIAC leader Gustavus 61-56 Saturday in men's basketball play at UST's Schoenecker Arena.
The Tommies (10-11 overall, 8-8 MIAC), who have won six of their last eight games, opened up a 1 1-2 game lead over idle St. John's in the race for the sixth and final playoff spot with two weeks left in the season.
Neal Anderson scored 15 points and Nick Schader had eight points and 11 rebounds for the Tommies, who survied 31% field-goal shooting. The Tommies used a 15-2 edge in second-chance point in the upset win. UST made 23-of-28 foul shots, had just eight turnovers and outrebounded Gustavus 36-32.
Phil Snowden had 19 points and 11 rebounds and Doug Espenson had 16 points for the No. 17-ranked Gusties (16-5, 14-2), who had a nine-game winning streak halted. It was just Gustavus' second loss to an MIAC foe in the last 22 games dating back to February 2003.
St. Thomas used a 22-10 first-half rebounding edge to build a 39-22 lead, and they still led 39-24 at halftime. But a 20-4 Gustie run in the first 13:00 of the second half pulled GAC ahead 44-43.
Anderson's 3-point basket with 2:02 to go put the Toms ahead 55-53. The Toms made 4-of-6 free throws in the final 2:00. Eric Nelson's 3-pointer with :03 to go cut the lead to 59-56, but Schader added two more free throws with :01.4 left to ice the victory.
The Tommies play at second-place Macalester Wednesday and play at Carleton next Saturday.
Visit the Tommie website for offial stats at: http://www.stthomas.edu/tommies/MBB/stats/2-7mb.htm