KANSAS CITY, Mo. (March 13, 2023) - March 13, 2023 will mark a historic day in St. Thomas University (STU) Men's Basketball history. The Bobcats are set to make their first round of 16 appearance ever.
In nearly 57 years of existence, the uncharted territory has finally been reached. Patrick Crarey II has made his mark in just two years, superseding greats like the late Ken Stibler, who is a Bobcat Hall of Famer and who led many great Bobcat teams in the programs first 17 years in both the NCAA Division II and NAIA leagues.
Monday afternoon, St. Thomas will take on 6-seed Tougaloo (Miss.) to kick off play at the final site in Kansas City in the Municipal Arena.
Tougaloo advanced winning the New Orleans bracket. The Bulldogs took down 11-seed Texas A&M Texarkana and then advanced to the Second Round and defeated 14-seed SAGU who upset the defending national champions and host, Loyola.
St. Thomas won the Lakeland bracket with two upsets, taking down 7-seed The Master's. Then using a huge second half to comeback down 15 and win it in overtime against host and 2-seed Florida College.
St. Thomas is led by three First Team All-Sun Conference members, Fred Mulbah, Milton Matthews and Dalon Dean. All three has a set a record this second with Mulbah and Dean setting new single season records in assist and 3-point baskets made, respectively. The Bobcats finished as the Sun Conference regular season and tournament runner-up. As a team, STU is no. 2 in the nation in 3-point baskets made per game (10.9) and fifth in assists per game (18.5).
Tougaloo was the GSAC regular season and tournament champions. The Bulldogs are currently on a 19-game winning streak and come in 31-1 on the season. The team's strength lies in the rebound game and they are eighth in the country in rebound margin at 9.8. The defense is their key forcing the lowest opponent 3-point percentage in the NAIA and are seventh in points allowed per game.
It will be a great battle to watch on both sides as both teams strengths go hand in hand. The Bobcats are an offensive team and the Bulldogs a defensive team.
Look into the matchup below:
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St. Thomas
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Tougaloo
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84.4
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PPG
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79.8
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|
18.5
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APG
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17.4
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|
39.3
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RPG
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40.7
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46.4%
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FG%
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47.7%
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38.3%
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3P%
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33.9%
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|
74%
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FT%
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70.3%
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Both teams will be looking to advance in the Naismith Bracket and move on to Wednesday to take on 1-seed College of Idaho or 5-seed LSU-Shreveport.
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