Sparkill, N.Y. - A 43-point first half helped the St. Thomas Aquinas College Men's Basketball team defeat Holy Family University, 90-68 on Sunday afternoon at Aquinas Hall Gymnasium. STAC improves to 8-3 on the season, winning its fourth straight contest, while the Tigers drop to 2-8.
13 different players registered a point for the Spartans, with Antonio Vendola leading the way with 15 points. Demetre Roberts also posted a 14-point day, with Sean Moore and Jamal Barnes each chipping in 10 points.
STAC shot 47.2 percent from the field (34-72) in the non-conference tilt, while making 13-of-32 buckets from behind the arc. Holy Family shot 36.1% (22-61) and 12-for-34 from three.
STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:
- 10 different players recorded double-digit minutes in the contest.
- Grant Singleton led the Spartans with six assists on the day.
- Antonio Vendola made 5 of his 8 field goal attempts, with 5-of-7 going from three. Demetre Roberts went 5-for-9 from the floor.
- STAC scored the game's first basket at 19:39 of the first half on an Antonio Vendola trey, and maintained the lead throughout the game.
- The Spartans were 18-38 (47.4%) from the field and 5-18 (27.8%) from downtown in the first half and 16-34 (47.1%) from the floor and 8-14 (57.1%) from three in the second half.
- St. Thomas Aquinas picked up nine steals in the contest, with Holy Family turning the ball over on 17 different occasions.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- St. Thomas Aquinas was strong from the opening tip, holding a 43-24 lead at the half, and held its largest lead of the game (26 points) at 72-46 late in the second stanza.
- Demetre Roberts paced the offense for the Spartans in the first half, with eight points.
- STAC's bench recorded 40 of the team's 90 points.
- The Spartans also held sizable margins in points off of turnovers (29-11) and points in the paint (30-14).
- STAC out rebounded the Holy Family 47-36 in 40 minutes of action.
UP NEXT:
St. Thomas Aquinas returns to ECC action, facing the University of Bridgeport on Friday evening, December 17. Opening tip between the Spartans and Purple Knights is scheduled for 7:30pm at Aquinas Hall in Sparkill.