HOUSTON,TX- In a dramatic Senior Night showdown, the University of St. Thomas Celts edged out Schreiner 63-61, securing the regular-season championship in the SCAC Blue Division. With the victory, UST finishes the regular season at 23-2 overall and 15-1 in conference play, earning the No. 1 seed heading into the SCAC Tournament.

The game started with Schreiner coming out strong, jumping to a quick 7-1 lead. The Celts struggled to find their rhythm early, but a crucial shot from Nathan Kongolo sparked their offense. UST responded with a scoring run, cutting the deficit to one at 16-17. Angel Johnson then gave the Celts their first lead with a deep three-pointer, making it 22-17. However, the Mountaineers battled back, reclaiming the advantage before Andrew Adebo's late bucket tied the game at 26. Schreiner took control once again and entered halftime with a 35-30 lead.

Coming out of the break, UST wasted no time cutting into the deficit. A key and-one finish from Eren Ertan, followed by a go-ahead basket from Charles Gitonga, put the Celts up 42-40. The teams exchanged baskets over the next few minutes, but UST slowly built a 46-43 lead with nine minutes left. Schreiner fought back, tying the game at 52-52, and later took a 59-56 advantage with just under two minutes to play.

With the pressure on, Gitonga delivered in the clutch, knocking down a three-pointer to tie the game at 59 with 1:30 remaining. Moments later, he struck again from beyond the arc, giving UST a 62-59 lead. Schreiner answered with a dunk, making it 62-61. In the final seconds, Johnson drove to the basket and drew a foul with four seconds left. He calmly sank both free throws to seal the 63-61 victory.

Gitonga led the way for UST with 17 points, including the game's biggest shots down the stretch. Johnson finished with 13 points and five assists, while Adebo contributed 11 points and eight rebounds. Kongolo added 11 points and six rebounds, while the Celts' defense stepped up with seven steals and five blocks.

Up Next
With the regular season complete, the Celts now shift their focus to the SCAC Tournament. As the No. 1 seed in the Blue Division, they will compete on Saturday, February 29, looking to add a tournament title to their impressive season.