After a double-digit lead at halftime, the St. Thomas basketball team slipped into a deficit it would not return from, falling to St. Olaf 62-53 and ending its five-game win streak Wednesday at Schoenecker Arena.

A layup with five minutes left of play by St. Olaf center Frank Delaney marked the beginning of the end for the Tommies. Tied at 50, the Oles gained their first lead of the second half, which they ran with until time expired.

Head coach John Tauer attributes the outcome to a decline in energy.

“Obviously we played a good first half,” Tauer said. “I thought the second half we started off strong and then, defensively our intensity let up … We got outplayed badly in the second half both on offense and defense.”

The Tommies (9-4 overall, 5-3 MIAC) passed the lead back and forth with the Oles (5-7 overall, 3-4 MIAC) in the first half, but an offensive surge powered by guard Michael Hannon and forward Elijah Hannah, who scored 12 and 13 points respectively for St. Thomas.

Hannah also named energy the demise of the game.

“We needed to pick up energy, but apparently we didn’t do enough,” Hannah said. “We really had to go in hard on defense but we didn’t do that tonight.”

The Tommies entered the second half confidently with a secure lead, but quickly crumbled under the Oles’ persistent offense and inside shooting. Delaney and forward Robert Tobroxen led St. Olaf’s pursuit with 16 and 13 points respectively.

Even after breaking a month-long win streak, the Tommies aren’t letting tonight’s loss get in the way of what’s ahead.

“We gotta regroup, and we’re gonna see another really good team on Saturday in Concordia,” Tauer said. “Our focus is always on what’s in front of us, so hopefully we’ll come out with better energy.”

St. Thomas will next take on Concordia-Moorhead this Saturday at 3 p.m. at Schoenecker Arena.

Lauren Andrego can be reached at lauren.andrego@stthomas.edu.