(BUTTE, Mont.)-No. 5 seed Thomas More University men's basketball team fell to No. 4 seed Montana Tech on Wednesday evening (March 8), 77-72, in the Second Round of the 2023 NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship to end their season. The Saints close out their season with an overall record of 23-9 and 15-7 in conference.
- Sophomore Wyatt Vieth (Burlington, Ky./St. Henry) made a layup to start the game off for the Saints to make it a 2-0 game with 19:47 on the clock.
- The Saints started the first half going 9-9.
- With 16:13 on the clock, senior Reid Jolly (Alexandria, Ky./Campbell County) drove in a layup to put the Saints up by six (17-11).
- Sophomore Casey George (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North) laid in a layup with 4:22 to play in the first half to extend the Saints lead to 37-29.
- Senior Noah Pack (Georgetown, Ohio/Georgetown) made a layup for the final basket of the first half with 50 seconds on the clock to give the Saints a 41-34 lead going into the locker room at the half.
- Reid Jolly led the team with 14 points and four rebounds and had one assist in the first half.
- Wyatt Vieth also had four rebounds to lead the team and had eight points and one assist.
- Noah Pack recorded three assists to lead the team in the first half and had seven points and two rebounds.
- The Saints were 59.4% (19-32) from the field, 60% (3-5) from the 3-point line, and 0% (0-1) from the free throw line in the first half.
- Noah Pack drove to the basket for a layup to make it a 43-37 game with 19:02 to play.
- With 14:13 to play, Reid Jolly would hit a jumper to help the Saints regain the lead (49-47).
- Jacob Jones knocked in a jump shot with 9:12 on the clock to put the Saints up 56-50.
- Noah Pack made a free throw to tie the game up at 67-67 with 35 seconds left.
- At the end of regulation, the game was tied at 67-67.
- Reid Jolly recorded six points in the second half to lead the Saints and has one rebound and one assist.
- Casey George also tallied six points to lead the team and had two rebounds.
- Jacob Jones recorded six points and two assists for a team high in the second half and has three rebounds.
- Noah Pack had five points and one rebound.
- Wyatt Vieth led the team defensively with six rebounds and had three points.
- The Saints were 45.8% (11-24) from the field, 25% (2-8) from the 3-point line, and 33.3% (2-6) from the free throw line in the second half.
- Noah Pack would make one free throw to start of the scoring for the Saints in overtime with 2:55 to play (68-73).
- Wyatt Vieth would make a jumper with 2:04 to play to put the Saints within five (70-75).
- Jacob Jones knocked in two free throws to make it a 3-point game with 1:25 to play (72-75).
- The Saints would ultimately come up short to Montana Tech 77-72 to close out their final season in the NAIA.
- Reid Jolly led the Saints with 20 points, five rebounds, and two assists.
- Wyatt Vieth recorded a double double to lead the team with 10 rebounds and had 10 points and one assist,
- Noah Pack led the team with three assists and had 13 points and four rebounds.
- Casey George had 12 points and four rebounds.
- Jacob Jones put up 12 points, four rebounds, and two assists.
- The Saints were 50% (31-62) from the field, 33.3% (5-15) from the 3-point line, and 38.5% (5-13) from the three point line.
The Saints return to action next Fall as they transition to NCAA Division II and the Great Midwest Conference.
