The 24th-ranked Tommies advance to Saturday's second-round game in Appleton, Wis., vs. top-ranked Lawrence (24-0). St. Thomas has won 16 of its last 18 games and is 12-1 at home this season.
St. Thomas shot 52% from the field, had only four turnovers, and scored 50 second-half points to pull away from No. 10-ranked North Central.
Junior guard Bryan Schnettler scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half, including 10 of 10 at the foul line, and junior Mike Keating had 11 of his 15 points in the second half.
The Cardinals, playing their first NCAA playoff game since 1990, shot 48% from the field and outrebounded UST 34-26 but were outscored 19-6 at the foul line. Dan Walton had 15 points and eight rebounds, Anthony Simmons had 14 points and six rebounds and Adam Krumtinger had 10 points.
North Central led 29-26 at halftime on Simmons' tip-in at the first-half buzzer. The Cardinals built the lead to 34-29 with 17:42 left but the Tommies answered with a 19-6 run started by two Rosefelt dunks.
The Cardinals never got closer than six in the final six minutes. UST made 9-of-10 free throws in the final 53 seconds.
see" class="red" rel=nofollow>http://www.stthomas.edu/tommies/MBB/stats/3-2-mbb.htm">see box score here