GRAND FORKS, N.D. (Interstat) — Nick Janowski scored 32 points to propel Saint Thomas to a 91-80 victory over North Dakota in Summit League men’s basketball on Thursday night at Engelstad Arena. The Tommies improved to 15-4 overall after pulling away in the second half before a crowd of 2,390. Saint Thomas led 37-36 at halftime before outscoring the Fighting Hawks 54-44 after the break. Nolan Minessale added 27 points for the Tommies. North Dakota, which fell to 9-12, was led by Greyson Uelmen and Anthony Smith III, who each scored 19 points. The Fighting Hawks could not keep pace despite shooting 50% from the field in the first half. Saint Thomas, which entered as a heavy favorite according to analytics projections, won its third straight game.

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (Interstat) — Nick Janowski scored 32 points and Nolan Minessale added 27 as Saint Thomas (Minn.) pulled away in the second half to defeat North Dakota 91-80 in a Summit League men’s basketball game Thursday night at Engelstad Arena. A crowd of 2,390 watched the Tommies improve to 15-4 overall and remain near the top of the conference standings. The Fighting Hawks fell to 9-12. The game’s pivotal sequence arrived early in the second half, turning a narrow contest into a comfortable Saint Thomas lead. After taking a slim 37-36 edge into halftime, the Tommies opened the second period with a decisive 16-5 run over the first five minutes. Janowski, a 6-foot-4 guard from Pewaukee, Wisconsin, ignited the surge with a 3-pointer and capped it with another, showcasing the scoring burst that has defined his recent play. The run gave Saint Thomas a 53-41 advantage, a margin North Dakota would never seriously threaten. Janowski’s performance continued a remarkable stretch for the junior, who has now scored 30 or more points in three of his last four games. He played 38 minutes, adding an assist and multiple defensive plays. His backcourt partner, Austin Herro of Milwaukee, orchestrated the offense with 10 assists to go with nine points and three steals. North Dakota, led by 19 points apiece from Greyson Uelmen of Excelsior, Minnesota, and Anthony Smith III of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, kept pace in a back-and-forth first half. The Fighting Hawks took an early 3-0 lead on a Garrett Anderson 3-pointer and held a 25-23 advantage after a Smith layup with just over six minutes remaining before halftime. Saint Thomas responded with a 9-2 spurt, fueled by five points from Janowski, to reclaim a lead it would not relinquish. The Tommies’ offense found another gear after the break. Their 54-point second-half output was fueled by efficient ball movement and timely shooting. Minessale, a 6-5 wing from Brookfield, Wisconsin, was a constant threat, scoring from all three levels. His 27 points came on a mix of 3-pointers, drives, and free throws. Carter Bjerke, a 6-9 forward from Plymouth, Minnesota, provided key interior defense with two blocks and hit a crucial 3-pointer during the second-half run that extended the lead to 69-55 with just over six minutes to play. North Dakota made several attempts to rally. Eli King of Caledonia, Minnesota, scored 11 points, and his driving layup cut the deficit to 75-68 with under four minutes left. Each time, however, Saint Thomas had an answer, often from Janowski or Minessale. A Minessale 3-pointer off a Janowski assist pushed the lead back to 12 with 1:43 remaining, effectively sealing the outcome. Saint Thomas shot well from the field, though specific percentages were not immediately available, and controlled the tempo for much of the night. North Dakota struggled to string together consecutive stops during the Tommies’ key runs. Anderson finished with 11 points and two blocks for the Fighting Hawks, while George Natsvlishvili of Tbilisi, Georgia, added nine points. The victory extends Saint Thomas’s winning streak to four games as they continue a strong start to conference play. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, the Tommies entered with a 75.6% probability to win. The combined 171 points sailed over the pregame over/under line of 154.5. Saint Thomas travels to face North Dakota State on Saturday. North Dakota remains at home to host South Dakota the same day. The two teams will meet again in St. Paul on Jan. 29.

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (Interstat) — A surging Saint Thomas (Minn.) team looks to continue its climb in the Summit League standings when it visits a struggling North Dakota squad on Thursday night at Engelstad Arena. The Tommies (14-4, 3-0 Summit) have won five straight games and are off to a perfect start in conference play. They are coming off an 82-71 road win at Oral Roberts on Saturday, powered by 23 points from guard Nick Janowski. Janowski has been a consistent force, averaging 18.4 points over his last five contests, including a 31-point, 7-rebound performance in a win over Denver on Jan. 4. North Dakota (9-11, 2-2) has been inconsistent, alternating wins and losses in its last six games. The Fighting Hawks narrowly escaped with an 81-79 win at Missouri-Kansas City last Saturday, thanks to a season-high 22 points from guard Garrett Anderson. Anderson leads the team in scoring during conference play, averaging 13.5 points per game. The matchup pits one of the league’s most efficient offenses against a vulnerable defense. Saint Thomas averages 86.2 points per game and has scored 90 or more points in six games this season. North Dakota, conversely, allows 76.6 points per game and has struggled to contain high-powered attacks. Saint Thomas has dominated recent non-conference play but is seeking to prove its mettle on the road in the Summit League. North Dakota aims to protect its home court and level its conference record. The Tommies’ offensive firepower, led by Janowski, will test a Fighting Hawks defense that must find answers to slow the league’s hottest team. The teams will meet again in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Jan. 29.