St. Thomas (7-4 overall, 7-0 MIAC) survived a see-saw affair and won its fourth conference game in eight days, including three road victories.
The Tommies opened a 2.5 game lead over Bethel and Gustavus (4-2 MIAC) and a three-game lead over Carleton (4-3 MIAC) early in the 20-game conference race.
St. Thomas watched its 12-point lead vanish midway through the second half. The Toms later needed four 3-point baskets in the final 3:10 to overcome a six-point deficit.
Soph guard Bryan Schnettler came off the bench to nail treys at the 3:10 and 2:20 marks to keep UST within three points. Neal Anderson's 3-pointer with 1:40 to go tied the game at 64-64.
When UST committed two turnovers in the final minute, Coach Steve Fritz' team appeared headed for its first defeat. With the score tied 64-64, the Tommies miscommunicated on the offensive end and threw the ball away. Carleton capitalized at its end as Kyle Beste's basket with 25 seconds left produced a 66-64 lead.
UST again threw an errant pass and turned it over with 16 seconds left. The Toms quickly fouled, but Carleton wasn't yet in the bonus to shoot free throws, and had to inbound the ball with a two-point lead. But when the Knights turned the ball over with 11 seconds left on a line violation, the Toms had another chance. After a time out, Sweeney's 3-point try off the glass rolled around and went down for a 67-66 lead.
After another time out, a desperation shot at the buzzer rimmed off for the Knights, who have had an up-and-down last eight days. After a huge road win at defending MIAC champ Gustavus last Monday, the Knights lost in overtime Wednesday at Concordia on a desperation shot off a tipped-pass at the buzzer. The Knights then needed overtime Saturday to outlast Macalester.
The Tommies led most of the game and moved ahead by 12 points with 13:00 left. But Carleton stormed back and built a six-point lead with 4:50 remaining as Dan Forkrud, Anthony Baquero and Tommy Drake fueled a monster comeback. Forkrud had a career-high 25 points and Baquero made his last three 3-point tries down the stretch after starting 0-for-4 from bonus range.
For UST, Anderson had 18 points, Joey Shimek had 15 points, and Sweeney and Isaac Rosefelt each had nine points.
The Tommies continue a busy stretch with Wednesday's 7:30 p.m. varsity game at second-place Bethel. They also play Saturday at St. Mary's and close the first half of the conference season next Monday at home vs. Concordia-Moorhead. Sty. Thomas has a Jan. 18 bye and plays a rematch with Carleton at home Jan. 22.