Graduate forward Rich Byhre backs down junior Chicago State guard Gabe Spinelli. The Tommies beat the Cougars 98-76 Monday night at Schoenecker Arena. (Adam Mueller/TheCrest) 
Redshirt first-year guard Jermaine Coleman threw down a dunk in the final minutes of Monday’s game. (Adam Mueller/The Crest) 
Senior guard Ryan Dufault rose above for two of the Tommies’ 38 points in the paint. (Adam Mueller/The Crest) 
Sophomore forward Carter Bjerke received a technical foul early in the second half, while two more were called on Chicago State later. (Adam Mueller/The Crest) 
The Tommies played in front of a home crowd for the first time since Nov. 15. (Adam Mueller/The Crest)
The new-look Tommies continued their signature style of selfless basketball Monday as they propelled themselves to a 98-76 victory over the Chicago State University Cougars (0-10) at Schoenecker Arena.
St. Thomas entered the 2024 season with a revamped squad that features nine new players, three transfers and six true first-years. The Tommies have played 9 games and have a 5-4 record.
“(There’s) about nine new guys in the team. That was an adjustment period for us at the beginning of the season. The younger guys listened really well to us and it’s our job to teach them and help them,” graduate guard Drake Dobbs said.
The wealth was evenly spread in the box score. Nine Tommies scored at least five points, while first-year forward Ben Oosterbaan, senior guard Ben Nau, junior guard Kendall Blue and first-year guard Ryan Lafferty scored in double-digits. The bench was responsible for 55 points.
“Fifty-five bench points it’s a pretty remarkable stat … And when guys don’t care who gets credit or who scores, you’re not always going to have nights where you score 98 or have that kind of bench contribution,” coach Johnny Tauer said.
The Tommies lead the Summit League with 17.2 assists per game. The team also ranks fifth among most points in the conference.
After the game, Tauer said that actions on and off the court are the key to a successful performance.
“It’s everything, it’s attitudes, values, behaviors, beliefs. Some are explicit, some are implicit. And I think, it’s one of things we’ve had in our program, that kind of selflessness, certainly some of it I hope, is that guys see what gets rewarded,” Tauer said.
According to senior guard Ben Nau, a big part of the team’s success is the trust between Tauer and his players.
“We’re a player-led team, which is so unique for a college team. Like (Tauer) trusts us with the little things. Where if you’re not doing those things, then you’re not going to play,” Nau said.
Nau also added the relationship between players is unmatched and something he hasn’t seen before.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been able to create a relationship where I can literally say these guys are my best friends … You look forward to seeing your team. Thanksgiving, I didn’t see them for two days, and I miss them,” Nau said.
Dobbs embodied Tauer’s principles in Monday’s victory and was plus-29, while taking just one shot. He dished out two assists and had no turnovers.
Aside from Dobbs’ defense that stifled the Cougars attack, he was also a leadership voice for veteran and young players alike.
Sophomore forward Carter Bjerke drew a technical foul after a scramble for a basketball early in the second half. Bjerke was visibly rattled, and Dobbs said he injected some zen into the forward’s mind.
“I was just trying to tell him, you know, to keep his head. Don’t let the moment get too big for you … I’m just trying to have his back in that moment there on the court,” Dobbs said.
Moving forward, Tauer said he expects the 10-player rotation to continue with veteran players leading the way.
The Cougars led 2-0 for the first 47 seconds of the game but played from behind the rest of the night. Chicago State did not hit a three-pointer until the end of the first half.
Chicago State has not won a game since defeating the University of California-San Diego in March 2024.
The Tommies will now hit the road for a Big Sky-Summit matchup and play the University of Northern Colorado Wednesday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
St. Thomas returns home Saturday, Dec. 7 for another Big Sky-Summit clash. The Tommies will face the University of Montana at 2 p.m.
“It’s a fun style. I love the way our veterans are really mentoring the young guys. And I think we’re seeing our freshmen grow right in front of our eyes which is always one of the fun things of college basketball,” Tauer said.
Juan Del Valle can be reached at delv9625@stthomas.edu.