Omaha wins 1st Summit League Competition title

Mar 10, 2025, 12:10 AM ET

SIOUX FALLS, S.D.– JJ White scored 29, Marquel Sutton totaled 22 points and a career-high 18 rebounds and Omaha beat St. Thomas-Minnesota 85-75 on Sunday night in the championship game of the Summit League Tournament.The top-seeded Mavericks(22-12)had currently earned the automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament getting in the game due to the fact that the Tommies(24-10 )– the No. 2 seed– are in their final year of postseason ineligibility after making an uncommon leap from Division III to Department I.The Mavericks will play in the NCAA Tournament for the first time after transitioning to D-I play in 2011. Omaha’s 22 victories this season are its most since the move up.White and

reserve Lance Waddles both scored 11 in the first half and combined to make 5 of 6 shots from 3-point range to guide Omaha to a 39-33 benefit. Sutton, the Top League player of the year, had his eighth double-double this season by halftime with 10 points and 10 rebounds.Sutton opened the

2nd half with a dunk and White followed with a 3-pointer to push Omaha’s result in double digits. A Waddles 3-pointer provided the Mavericks their biggest lead at 51-36 with 14 minutes remaining.St.

Thomas got within 6 points 4 times, the last one at 79-73 on two Minessale totally free tosses with 1:58 left. Sutton followed with two nasty shots and White added a layup to conclude the title.White made 10

of 14 shots with 3 3-pointers, including 5 assists for the Mavericks. Waddles hit four 3-pointers and scored 15.

Minnessale had 20 points to lead the Tommies. Miles Barnstable scored 14.