DALLAS – St. Thomas men's basketball team validated its No. 27 national ranking Friday, taking care of business in an 83-60 win over Paul Quinn College.

The Celts (13-6, 5-3 Red River Athletic Conference) led most of the way, and never trailed by more than one. UST shot 44 percent from the field, including a 13 of 39 effort from three-point range, while holding Paul Quinn (3-15, 1-7) to 27.5 percent shooting and just 3 of 18 from behind the arc.

UST built a 35-24 halftime lead, which included a triple by Keaton Shaw (JR/Mt. Belvieu, Texas) with 1:07 left in the half that put the Celts ahead 35-20. Paul Quinn picked up a pair of free throws from Tyrese King, and Jordan Smith came away with a steal and bucket two seconds before the buzzer to close the half.

Paris Marquez (SR/Atascocita, Texas)'s triple at the 4:01 mark left St. Thomas in front, 30-17. Smith sank a free throw to cut it to 10 with 2:29 to go. Nathan Thormaehlen (JR/Katy, Texas) scored on a feed from Shaw at the 1:32 mark to put UST ahead, 32-20.

St. Thomas outrebounded Paul Quinn, 31-22, in the first half.

Orowo Eleyae (SR/Houston, Texas) scored off a turnover 2:41 into the second to put UST up, 45-28. Cameron Gims (FR/Cypress, Texas)' three-pointer with 14:23 remaining extended the Celts lead to 22. The Tigers got within 18, but Freddie Ricks (FR/Cypress, Texas) canned a three to make it a 24-point deficit.

Paul Quinn cut it to 16 on a free throw by Smith at the 4:51 mark, but Peter Ellwanger (SR/Magnolia, Texas) grabbed an offensive rebound and scored with 2:48 to go, and Lennard Robinson (JR/Houston, Texas) sank a free throw to make it a 25-point game, and the rout was on.

St. Thomas had 20 assists, including seven by Marquez, who added 10 boards and eight points. Eleyae had 12 points, while Thormaehlen and Gims each scored 10. Thormaehlen had nine rebounds. Sam Flores (SR/El Paso, Texas) scored eight points.

UST attempted only two free throws in the first half, and went 12 of 17 from the line. Paul Quinn was 19 of 35 from the stripe. St. Thomas was whistled for 26 fouls, while the Tigers committed 15.

The Celts outrebounded the Tigers, 60-39.

St. Thomas will play at Texas College 7 p.m. Saturday.