ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College men's basketball team lost a MIAC game to the University of St. Thomas, 81-66 Wednesday night in the Leonard Center. The Scots drop to 6-11 overall and 2-10 in the conference, while the Tommies improve to 13-4, 9-3 MIAC.

St. Thomas used a 12-4 run late in the first half to take its largest lead of the period, 43-30 with 3:37 on the clock. A three-pointer from senior guard Dylan Kilgour (La Crescenta, Calif./Crescenta Valley) and a basket by junior guard Gunnar Goeden (Appleton, Wis./Appleton North) brought Macalester to within eight, 45-37 at the break. Senior center Kareem Ismail (Pasadena, Calif./Flintridge Prep) tallied 15 first-half points for the Scots, while the Tommies shot 53.1 percent from the floor, including six three-pointers.

In the second half, St. Thomas tightened the defense, holding Macalester to 35.7 percent shooting from the field and just one three-pointer after halftime. The Scots never came closer than the halftime score, as the Tommies led by as many as 19 points, 68-49 midway through the second half. Macalester reduced the deficit to 13 points three times after that but was unable to prevent St. Thomas from completing the season sweep.

Ismail, who was named to the D3Hoops.com National Team of the Week on Tuesday, had another strong game with 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field. He also grabbed six rebounds and delivered three assists. Sophomore guard Michael Gutierrez (Stillwater, Minn./St. Croix Prep Academy) recorded 19 points and four assists, while Kilgour finished with 12 points. Grant Shaeffer paced the Tommies with 21 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.

Macalester faces Bethel University on Saturday, Jan. 28 in another MIAC contest. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in Roseville, Minn.