The St. Thomas Aquinas College men's basketball team lost it's second game in as many days, completing their southern swing with a 72-49 defeat at Virginia Union University. TJ Jones led the Spartans with 11 points but could not prevent his squad from dropping its fifth straight to fall to 1-9 overall, while VUU climbed to 2-6 on the season.

Contrary to what the final score might indicate, STAC held its own early, recording the first four points of the contest. The Panthers then took charge with a 10-1 burst but the teams exchanged several leads before the Spartans settled for a 30-27 halftime deficit.

That proved to be as close as the visitors would get, however. VUU bolted out to a 16-2 run shortly after the break to open a comfortable 48-31 lead. STAC would draw no closer than a dozen points thereafter, as the hosts pulled away in the final minutes.

Omar Kellman and Eddie Johnson posted 10 points each to join Jones in double-figures, with Jones and Kellman each pulling down nine rebounds. Marcel Crump led the Panthers' charge with a game-high 18 points, aided by teammates Kimar Johnson (14 points, game-high 10 boards), and Wesley Simmons (11 points).

STAC will return to action in 2013, starting the new year with an East Coast Conference battle against Roberts Wesleyan College at Aquinas Hall on Saturday, January 5. Tip-off time is scheduled for 3:00 pm, after the completion of the women's game, and if you can't get out to see the teams in person, be sure to follow our video broadcast as well as Live Stats on the internet.