ST. PAUL, Minn. — In a thrilling matchup, Kendall Blue powered St. Thomas to a 65-59 victory over UMKC on Saturday, contributing 22 points to the scoreboard.
Blue was not only pivotal with his scoring but also secured six rebounds, helping the Tommies to improve their season record to 22-9 overall and 12-4 within the Summit League. Alongside Blue, Miles Barnstable made an impact by scoring nine points despite a challenging shooting day, going 3 of 15 from the field and just 1 of 9 from beyond the arc. Contributing to the team’s success, Rich Byhre added nine points, achieving a perfect 4 of 4 from the free-throw line and converting 2 of 4 shots from the field.
On the opposite side, the Kangaroos put up a strong fight led by Babacar Diallo, who tallied 17 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out four assists. Jamar Brown was another key player for UMKC, adding 12 points and seven rebounds to the team’s effort. Meanwhile, Melvyn Ebonkoli was a dominant presence under the boards, securing a notable double-double with 10 points and an impressive 15 rebounds.
While St. Thomas maintained their edge in this hard-fought game, the contest highlighted remarkable individual performances from both teams, setting the stage for an exciting exhibition of skill and strategy within college basketball. Both teams showed promising capabilities, with St. Thomas excelling in execution to seal their win against UMKC.
