sports

WINONA, MINN. - Freshman guard Tyler Nicolai scored 19 points, including the go-ahead basket with nine seconds left, and the St. Thomas men's basketball team ended Winona State's 36-game home-court winning streak Saturday with an 83-82 overtime victory.

The NCAA Division III Tommies (3-1) pulled one of the biggest upsets in the 28-year coaching era of Steve Fritz. The Warriors (6-1) were ranked first in NCAA Division II and last year's D-II runner-up. They had won 60 of their previous 61 games since January 2006.

St. Thomas rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit, getting two free throws from Teddy Archer with half a second left in regulation to force OT.

St. Thomas took an 81-80 lead with 30 seconds left in overtime. Jonte Flowers countered with a layup for Winona State with 17 seconds to go, but the Tommies came back with Nicolai's baseline jumper.

Flowers had a game-high 24 points for the Warriors.

FROM STAFF REPORTS