ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College men's basketball team resumed MIAC play with a defeat to visiting St. Thomas, 120-74 Wednesday evening in the Leonard Center. The Scots are now 1-9 overall and 0-5 in league play, while the Tommies improve to 5-5, 3-2 MIAC. Junior forward Wyatt Ferm (Farmington, Minn./Farmington) led all players with 31 points.

St. Thomas broke open a close game late in the first half, outscoring Macalester, 17-5 to take a commanding 42-24 advantage with 4:11 on the clock. After Ferm and sophomore guard Nikhil Smith (Augusta, Ga./Lakeside) hit back-to-back threes, the Tommies closed out the half with a 14-6 run to take a 56-36 lead into halftime. St. Thomas shot 52.6 percent from the field in the first half to counter 17 points from Ferm.

Four points from Ferm and a basket by sophomore forward Rob Newman (Westchester, N.Y./Rye Country Day) over the first two minutes of the second half helped to cut the deficit to 60-42. But the Tommies tallied the next 12 points to put the game out of reach. St. Thomas delivered 29 assists for the game and scored 31 fast break points in the win.

Ferm was 12-of-21 from the field and made 4-of-10 from three-point range. He also grabbed seven boards and had four of Macalester's nine blocks. Smith finished with nine points and three assists, while first year forward Xander Schmidt (New York, N.Y./Trevor Day School) notched a career-best nine rebounds. All 15 active players scored for St. Thomas, led by 16 points from John Veil.

The Scots continue MIAC action with a game at Hamline on Saturday, Jan. 6, beginning at 1:00 p.m.