The Basics
With a couple of new records under their belt, the Mavericks return home this week to take on St. Thomas in a battle for first place on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Gary Sharp will have the call on 1290 KOIL and links to live stats, audio, and video can be found at OMavs.com.

Quick Hits
• The Mavericks made history last Wednesday when they soundly defeated Denver 80-62 on the road, growing the win streak to a new Division I program record seven. Simultaneously, this put Omaha at 5-0 to open Summit League play which is also a new program record.
• Omaha had one of its most balanced team performances of the season against the Pioneers, with five Mavericks scoring between 11 and 15 points and five players also having at least four rebounds. This was the second game this year that five Mavericks scored in double figures. Omaha's 30 bench points were also the third most this year.
• As a team, the Mavericks shot over 50% from the field and from behind the arc, marking just the second time this year the team did both in the same game (previously done at North Dakota).
• Marquel Sutton continues to climb the Omaha scoring leaderboard as his 10 points last week moved him up to 37th all-time at 1055 points. He is just 25 points away from breaking into the top 30.
• JJ White became the fourth Maverick this year to top 200 points on the season, joining Sutton (327), Osburn (222), and Waddles (215), as he ended the night with 209.
• Tony Osburn had a perfect day from behind the arc on Wednesday, going 4-for-4. Not only was this his fourth game of the season with at least four 3-PT FGs, but was his first game shooting 100% with multiple attempts. 
• Sutton (17.2 ppg), White (16.2), Lance Waddles (14.8), and Osburn (13.2) are all in the top 20 in scoring in the Summit League in conference play.
• Sutton earned his first career Summit League Preseason honor after being named Second Team All-Preseason in October. In 2023-24, he was second on the team with 12.3 PPG (406 total) and led all Mavericks with 6.3 RPG (208 total boards).
• Lance Waddles (NDSU), Joshua Streit (NDSU), and Isaac Ondekane (Lindenwood) headline the Mavericks' top transfers this year with the trio coming to Omaha with a combined six seasons of Division I basketball under their belts. Also new this year are top JUCO transfers Kamryn Thomas (2024 NJCAA Third Team All-American), Khamani Cooper (465 points as a freshman in 2024), and Valentino Simon (965 career points from 2022-24). 
• Omaha has three captains this year: Marquel Sutton, Tony Osburn, and Lance Waddles.
• Head Coach Chris Crutchfield has a 45-59 career record. This season marks his fourth year as a head coach and third with the Mavericks.

Scouting the St. Thomas Tommies
The only other undefeated team in Summit League play, the Tommies have been in first place for most of the season and are currently ranked 19th in the Mid Major Top 25 poll at 15-5 with a 5-0 league record. Currently on a five-game winning streak, St. Thomas had one game last week in which they also beat Denver 74-62. The Tommies are also the top scoring offense in the league with 86.0 ppg and a 11.3 scoring margin.

Like the Mavericks, four Tommies have topped 200 points on the season and are averaging at least 10 ppg: Miles Barnstable (298, 14.9), Drake Dobbs (237, 11.9), Kendall Blue (233, 11.7), and Nolan Minessale (220, 11.0). 

Dobbs is the team's top shooter with a .567 FG%, .490 3-PT FG%, and .882 FT%, as well as also leading the team with 79 assists. Meanwhile, Blue is the team's top rebounder with 83 boards and 4.2 rpg, while Minessale paces the Tommies with 21 steals and 20 blocks.

Head Coach Johnny Tauer led the Tommies over their final decade of Division III competition, winning the 2016 National Championship and making seven total Tournament appearances. A 2001 St. Thomas Athletic Hall of Fame inductee following his playing career, Tauer has since amassed a 282-102 record as the program's head coach.

All-Time Against St. Thomas
The Mavericks moved to 1-5 all-time against St. Thomas after going 1-1 in the season series last year. JJ White totaled 30 points with 10 assists in the two matches last year, while Drake Dobbs was the Tommies leading returning scorer with 21 points.