OSHKOSH, Wisconsin – Kyler Gregory scored 25 points to lead unranked Guilford College 80-73 over No. 13 St. Thomas in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament Friday at Kolf Fieldhouse.
Guilford will play No. 4 Wisconsin-Oshkosh at Kolf for a chance to advance to the Final Four in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Oshkosh beat Loras, 86-75, in Friday’s second game.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Guilford and coach (Tom) Palombo,” coach John Tauer said. “They were as physical and tough of a team as we’ve seen.”
Senior Michael Hannon, in his final game, led St. Thomas (24-5) with 28 points, including five 3-pointers. First-year Anders Nelson added 13. No other Tommie was in double figures.
“It starts with the seniors,” Nelson said. “These guys have established a culture here at St. Thomas that has made us a force to be reckoned with.”
Seniors GT Johnson and Connor Bair also played their last game as Tommies.
“I couldn’t be prouder of what the seniors did as captains,” Tauer said. “Their legacy will live on.”
The Tommies led 39-30 at halftime behind 17 from Hannon. Guilford (24-7) took the lead at 14:52 remaining on a 3-point play by Gregory, 45-42, and the game was back-and-forth until the final couple of minutes, when the Quakers pulled away.
The Quakers shot 14-of-15 from the free throw line and sunk six threes in the second half.
St. Thomas was making its fifth Sweet 16 appearance in 11 years, its first since the national championship season in 2016. It also won a national championship in 2011.
Guilford was making its third appearance in the Sweet 16, the first since 2010. It won the NAIA national championship in 1973. The Quakers are 4-0 in the Sweet 16 all-time.
Alex Panos can be reached at pana8391@stthomas.edu.