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Video by Michael Ewen, chief video editor

Senior Tyler Nicolai did it again.

With the score tied 64-64 and the clock winding down, Nicolai dribbled the ball up court, spun off his defender and laid in the game-winning bucket to lift the Tommies past Wisconsin-Stevens Point, the defending national champions, in the NCAA Division III Sweet 16 Friday in Rock Island, Ill.

The shot came after Stevens-Point’s Louis Hurd nailed a game-tying 3-pointer with 17 seconds remaining.

Nicolai said he was confident after the shot left his hand.

“I probably should’ve gotten it higher off the glass, but it felt good,” he said. “I kind of knew it was going in.”

“That’s why he’s an All-American,” added coach Steve Fritz.

However, Nicolai didn’t have his best shooting performance, hitting only four of his 12 shots for 10 points.

“My jump shot hadn’t really been there the whole game,” he said. “[The] coaches kept telling me, ‘Try to get to the hoop, try to get to the hoop.’”

On the Tommies’ last play, Nicolai finally got to the hoop, helping the Tommies advance to the NCAA Division III Elite Eight.

Nicolai, who started 115 career games as a Tommie, has been a major contributor in his four years as a Tommie basketball player. He’s helped St. Thomas compile a 102-13 record in that span, including seven won or shared MIAC championships and four NCAA tournament trips.

This season, he’s no stranger to clutch plays either. Nicolai hit a buzzer-beater, game-winning 3-pointer against Carleton Jan. 5, and nailed another deep 3-pointer against Gustavus just three days later, sending the game into overtime.

“When it comes down to crunch time, I want the ball in my hands,” Nicolai said. “If I can’t make a play for myself, I’m going to try to kick it to one of [my teammates] to see if they can finish. I know they can.”

Senior Alex Healy led the Tommies in scoring Friday night, shooting 8-15 from the floor for 19 points.

“I’ve been struggling a little bit, but my coaches and players just kept telling me to shoot it,” Healy said. “I’m glad it worked out tonight.”

Healy hit a jumper with 7:14 remaining in the first half to give the Tommies a 21-18 lead, and the team never trailed for the rest of the game.

“We were able to keep that lead the rest of the night, which was just huge,” coach Steve Fritz said. “The last two months of the season, [Stevens Point] has been knocking people out early. We were able to stay with and get into a nice flow to our game.”

Junior Tommy Hannon shot 6-7 for 14 points, including back-to-back baskets that gave the Tommies an 11-point lead, their largest of the night.

“Tommy [Hannon] had two big righty hooks in a row, when they were on a run,” Nicolai said. “It seemed like every time they made a run, we were able to counter and get a little bit of a lead.”

Hannon had his hands full all night with Stevens Point posts Scott Hoelzel and Louis Hurd, who combined for 35 points. Hoelzel, a senior, made all eight of his shots.

“They’re big dudes,” Hannon said. “We just had to try to get it done and outwork them.”

The Tommies will play Augustana College from Rock Island, Ill., Saturday night. The Augustana Vikings (27-3) defeated the Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders 70-57 Friday night following the Tommies’ game. Fritz said he doesn’t know much about the team.

“You’ve seen just about everything,” Fritz said. “You rely on the things that brought you here.”

Miles Trump can be reached at mttaylorjohn@stthomas.edu.