SEGUIN, TX-- St. Thomas men's basketball team picked up a statement road victory on Saturday night, taking down Texas Lutheran, 71–69, in Seguin, Texas. The matchup was filled with intensity and momentum swings, showing UST's poise and toughness on the road against the Bulldogs. The hard-fought win keeps the Celts perfect in conference play as they improve to 17–1 overall and 9–0 in the SCAC.
UST came out aggressively to open the game, setting the tone early with strong defense and transition scoring. Charles Gitonga sparked the Celts with an early fast-break dunk, followed by finishes inside from Reyce Allen and Nathan Kongolo to give UST an early 8–0 lead. Angel Johnson and Corey Thompson helped fuel the offense as the Celts capitalized on turnovers and fast-break opportunities. Texas Lutheran responded midway through the half, using perimeter shooting to regain momentum and eventually take the lead. Despite several lead changes, UST stayed composed. Thompson knocked down a fast-break three late in the half, and Kongolo added a jumper to keep the Celts within striking distance. At the break, Texas Lutheran held a narrow 28–27 advantage.
The second half opened with another surge from the Bulldogs, but UST answered immediately. Gitonga and Thompson scored inside to keep the Celts close, while Johnson took control defensively, recording multiple steals that led directly to points. A strong stretch from Allen and Kongolo allowed UST to build an eight-point cushion midway through the half.
Texas Lutheran refused to go away, clawing back to tie the game at 60 with under four minutes remaining. The final minutes turned into a back-and-forth battle, with neither team able to pull away. Johnson and Allen delivered key buckets in the paint, while Nicholas Buffalo came up with crucial offensive rebounds.
In the final seconds, Buffalo delivered a clutch play, tipping in the game-winning basket with just three seconds left to give UST a 71–69 lead. The Celts forced a missed three on the final possession to secure the road victory.
Angel Johnson led all scorers with a standout performance, finishing with 24 points while shooting 9-of-12 from the field. He also added six steals and seven assists, impacting the game on both ends of the floor. Corey Thompson contributed 14 points and five rebounds, while Charles Gitonga chipped in 10 points, providing key finishes around the basket.
Up Next
UST will wrap up its road trip by taking on Concordia on Sunday, February 1, with tipoff set for 12 p.m. Fans can stay connected with Celts men's basketball by following @ustmbasketball on Instagram or visiting ustcelts.com.
