With guard Marcus Alipate’s game-tying basket with two seconds to play in regulation and a team-high 20 points, the St. Thomas men’s basketball team rallied to defeat Gustavus 83-79 in overtime in the semifinals of the MIAC playoffs Friday at Schoenecker Arena.
The Tommies (23-3 overall, 17-3 MIAC) gave up a 10 point halftime lead and rallied from a five-point deficit to defeat the Gusties in overtime. Gustavus guard Gary Cooper scored a game-high 23 points for the Gusties and led the second half charge that gave the No. 6-ranked Tommies a scare.
“I thought it was a classic playoff game. Gustavus is a very good team, and it’s what we expected. Certainly we were happy with the 10-point lead at halftime, and I thought we didn’t come out and execute crisply at the start of the second half,” coach John Tauer said. “I thought Gary Cooper, who’s an outstanding player, he got three straight baskets to start the second half. That’s a credit to both their screening action and also his ability to make shots.”
Guard Grant Shaeffer took over in the last ten minutes of the second half, scoring nine of his 20 total points. Shaeffer was able to get to the basket and knock down key free throws for the Tommies. Shaeffer credited Gustavus’ defense for taking away the three point shot and forcing St. Thomas to attack the rim.
“As the point guard, I try to distribute the ball and get our shooters shots. The game was coming down to the wire, and (Gustavus) was leaving me open a little bit because they have to,” Shaeffer said.
The Gusties had success in Friday night’s game when they got into the paint. The Gusties had only 10 first-half points in the paint but managed to score 20 in the second. Tauer credited the Gusties’ offensive success to the pick-and-roll.
“I thought defensively we didn’t defend their screening action as well as we would’ve liked in the second half,” Tauer said. “I think it’s easy to overanalyze specific possessions, but I think generally our guys didn’t come out with as much spark in the second half that we needed.”
The Tommies trailed by four points with under two minutes to play until the backcourt took control. The team had the opportunity to execute a set piece with 11 seconds to play, but Shaeffer missed a runner that lead to an offensive rebound by forward Taylor Montero. Alipate was the hero for the Tommies, tying the game at 69 with a fade-away jumpshot over the outstretched hand of a Gustie defender.
“We weren’t playing for one shot, we were looking to get a quick shot of the inbound. They defended that well,” Tauer said. “The ball got tipped back out, and Marcus (Alipate) hit the high-arching rainbow that we’ve all come to love over the last four years.”
“(Shaeffer) came off a pick-and-roll, shot the ball, and I was just a position just in case he wasn’t open I was going to get the shot. Taylor ended up tipping it out,” Alipate said. “I took one dribble, let it go, and the rest is history.”
In overtime, the Tommies never gave up the lead following a quick start with an Alipate layup.
“I thought in overtime we established the lead early on. It allowed us to dig our heels in…and I thought we managed the lead much better in overtime than we did in the second half,” Tauer said.
St. Thomas will host Bethel in the MIAC Championship Sunday at 2 pm.
“We are thrilled to be playing on Sunday. I think it’s going to be an unbelievable atmosphere. The MIAC playoff championship is always as electric a game as we play in all year,” Tauer said. “Bethel is very good. We’re looking forward to it, and we hope all the Tommie fans will be out the way they were tonight. It was a great showing.”
Jordan Kruger can be reached at krug6172@stthomas.edu.