ST. PAUL, Minn. – Junior Noah Beck led the St. Olaf College men's basketball team and matched a career-high 13 points, but the Oles fell to No. 16 St. Thomas, 89-63, in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) contest Monday evening at Schoenecker Arena.

St. Thomas (11-1, 7-0) outscored St. Olaf (6-6, 5-2) 42-27 in the first half and despite the Oles climbing back within 10 early in the second half, the Tommies extended their lead to 28 points with 8:08 remaining in the game after a 21-3 run to secure the victory.

Three of the Oles six losses on the season have been to ranked opponents including, No. 7 Whitworth, No. 9 UW-Stevens Point and No. 16 St. Thomas.

Beck led the Oles with 13 points, eights rebounds and four assists and junior Nate Albers added 12 points and two rebounds. Senior Austin Korba registered eight points and eight rebounds.

The Tommies jumped out to a 10-4 lead early in the first half after a basket from Connor Bair, and extended their lead to 14-5 after Tom Madison finished a layup inside. After a jumper from sophomore Dominic Bledsoe, the Oles climbed within seven with 9:29 remaining in the first half.

St. Thomas answered with a 10-3 run, making the score 28-14 with six minutes remaining in the half. Albers sank a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to 11 at 32-21.  Travis Fauchald finished a basket inside the lane with under a minute to play in the half, but the period would end with the Tommies on top by 15 after a Bair basket.

St. Olaf began the second half with a 9-5 run after back-to-back baskets from senior Frank Delaney and junior Troy Diggins Jr., bringing the Oles back within 10 with 17:42 remaining in the game. The Tommies answered with a 21-3 run and took a 28-point lead with 8:08 remaining.

The Oles outscored St. Thomas 17-15 in the last eight minutes of the game, but the early lead by St. Thomas was enough to keep the Tommies on top.

St. Olaf was 14-17 from the free throw line, but St. Thomas held the Oles to 33.3 percent shooting from the floor, while shooting 50 percent in the game.

The Oles return to Skoglund Center Wednesday, January 9, as they host Macalester for a MIAC contest beginning at 7 p.m. following the women's game, which begins at 5 p.m.