OMAHA, Neb. (Interstat) — In a high-octane Summit League shootout defined by clutch free throws and a frantic final minute, the Omaha Mavericks outlasted the Saint Thomas Tommies 98-94 on Thursday night at Baxter Arena.

The game, played before a crowd of 3,617, saw the lead change hands 10 times and was tied on six occasions, with neither team able to secure a double-digit advantage. The Mavericks improved to 13-14 overall, while the Tommies, who entered as heavy favorites according to advanced metrics, fell to 20-7.

The most critical sequence unfolded in the game’s final 20 seconds. With Omaha clinging to a 94-92 lead, Saint Thomas’ Nolan Minessale was called for a foul on Omaha’s Grant Stubblefield, sending the Mavericks’ guard to the line with 11 seconds remaining. Stubblefield, unflappable at the charity stripe all night, sank both free throws to push the lead to four.

The Tommies, without a timeout, rushed the ball upcourt, and Hayden Tibbits’ potential game-tying three-pointer missed. Omaha’s Ja’Sean Glover secured the defensive rebound and was immediately fouled. He made both ensuing free throws with five seconds left to seal the victory, capping a perfect 8-for-8 night at the line for Omaha in the final 48 seconds.

The contest was a stark contrast in offensive approaches. Saint Thomas was the more efficient team from the field, shooting 57.8% on 37-of-64 shooting, including 14 made three-pointers. Omaha countered with superior work at the free-throw line, converting 25 of 28 attempts (89.3%) compared to a dismal 6-of-14 (42.9%) performance by the Tommies. Omaha also won the turnover battle, committing nine to Saint Thomas’ 12, leading to a 17-10 advantage in points off turnovers.

Omaha’s backcourt trio proved unstoppable. Grant Stubblefield, the top star for the Mavericks, led all scorers with 22 points and added seven assists. Valentino Simon, from Nassau, Bahamas, matched him with 21 points, and Tony Osburn contributed 14. Ja’Sean Glover provided a massive spark off the bench, also scoring 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting.

Saint Thomas was led by a balanced attack. Nolan Minessale of Brookfield, Wisconsin, filled the stat sheet with 17 points and nine assists. Isaiah Johnson-Arigu, from Maple Grove, Minnesota, scored 19 points, while Ben Oosterbaan of Hinsdale, Illinois, added 13. The Tommies’ bench, led by Jermaine Coleman’s 11 points and Ryan Dufault’s 12, outscored Omaha’s reserves 32-9.

The first half set the tone for the night, ending with Omaha holding a narrow 47-42 lead. The Mavericks built their advantage primarily at the foul line, attempting 18 free throws to Saint Thomas’ five before halftime. The Tommies stayed close through hot three-point shooting, connecting on seven first-half attempts from beyond the arc.

The second half saw Saint Thomas quickly erase the deficit, taking a brief lead early. The teams traded baskets and small leads for the next 15 minutes, with neither able to gain significant separation. Omaha appeared to seize control with a 9-0 run late, capped by a Glover three-pointer with 3:20 remaining, to take an 80-71 lead.

Undaunted, the Tommies responded with a 9-2 run of their own, keyed by a three-pointer from Johnson-Arigu and a dunk from the same player, to close within 82-80 with 2:58 left. From there, the game became a tense exchange of scores and crucial free throws, culminating in Omaha’s perfect execution at the line to close it out.

The loss snaps a three-game winning streak for Saint Thomas, who entered the game having won 10 of their last 11. Omaha, meanwhile, halted a two-game skid and earned a pivotal conference victory.

Saint Thomas will look to rebound quickly, traveling to face Missouri-Kansas City on Saturday. Omaha continues its homestand, hosting Denver on Saturday. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in St. Paul on Feb. 28.