Sparkill, N.Y. - A career-high 36-point performance by Demetre Roberts propelled the St. Thomas Aquinas College Men's Basketball team to a 104-92 triumph over Molloy College on Monday evening at Aquinas Hall Gymnasium.

STAC improves to 17-4 and 10-1 in the ECC, while the Lions drop to 7-14 and 6-6 in conference play.

In addition to Roberts' career night, Grant Singleton dropped 27 points with Jamal Barnes (17 points) and DeVante Jamison (14 points) also scoring in double figures.

STAC shot 61.4 percent from the field (43-70) in the conference contest, while Molloy shot 58.6% (34-58) and made 12-of-25 three-point attempts.

STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Eight different players logged double-digit minutes in the contest. 
• Demetre Roberts led the Spartans with five assists each on the night.
• Roberts made 13 of his 21 field goal attempts, with 4-of-7 going in from behind the arc. Grant Singleton went 12-for-15 from the floor.
• The Spartans were 22-36 (61.1%) from the field in the first half and 21-34 (61.8%) from the floor in the second half.
• STAC out rebounded Molloy 32-24 through 40 minutes of action, with Luis Risquez leading the way for the Spartans, grabbing seven boards.
• St. Thomas Aquinas picked up 14 steals in the contest, with the Lions turning the ball over on 18 different occasions.
• The Spartans earned advantages in three team statistical categories over Molloy: Points off of Turnovers (22-13), Points in the Paint (60-42) and Bench Points (24-17).
• The win is the fifth straight for St. Thomas Aquinas and the team's ninth victory in their last ten games.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• St. Thomas Aquinas opened the contest on a 9-2 run, forcing an early Molloy timeout. The visiting Lions would respond, going on an 11-2 run of their own to tie the score at 11 all with just under 14 minutes to play in the first half.
• The teams would trade chances for large stretches of the remainder of the stanza, with the Spartans opening multiple six-point advantages, only to see Molloy tie the game repeatedly and eventually take the lead at 28-26 with six minutes to go before halftime.
• STAC would answer each time the Lions attempted to extend their lead, and were able to regain control of the scoreboard, building as much as a 10-point margin late, before closing the half with a 49-42 advantage.
• Demetre Roberts and Grant Singleton paced the Spartans with 13 points apiece in the opening frame, with Steven Torre leading all scorers with 14 points for Molloy.
• After the break, STAC would regain its 10-point lead (56-46) only to see Molloy once again chip away at the deficit via a 11-1 run to tie the score at 57-57, causing St. Thomas Aquinas to call a timeout.
• A tight game would ensue between the squads, with each side battling for baskets. STAC would hold the lead by only seven points (73-66) as the clock hit the midway point of the final regulation period.
• Two 10-point advantages by the Spartans (78-68 and 80-70) quickly dwindled as Molloy got within five with just over six minutes left to play. However, STAC would continue to impose its will on the visitors with DeVante Jamison, Grant Singleton, Demetre Roberts, Jamal Barnes and Elijah Bovell hitting key shots down the stretch to increase the Spartan lead by as much as 17 (98-81).
• Molloy would narrow the gap to 10 (102-92) with 48 seconds left to play, but time would not be on the Lions' side, as Demetre Roberts would sink a pair of free throws, giving him points number 35 and 36.

UP NEXT:

St. Thomas Aquinas looks to sweep the regular season series from Molloy, when the teams faceoff at Quealy Gymnasium on Wednesday, February 9. Opening tip is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in Rockville Centre.