Sparkill, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Men's Basketball team battled to earn a hard fought 81-75 victory over the University of the District of Columbia on Wednesday evening at Aquinas Hall.

STAC improves to 14-3 overall and 6-1 in East Coast Conference play, while UDC slips to 5-11 and 3-4.

Luis Risquez led the way for the Spartans, recording 12 points, while teammates Vasilis Tolias (10 points) and Jamal Barnes (10 points) also posted double figures in scoring.

STAC shot 41.2 percent (28-68) from the field, while UDC shot 43.1 percent (31-72) from the floor.

STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Ten Spartans logged double-digit minutes in the contest. 
• Rich Smith led the maroon and gold with six assists on the evening.
• Luis Risquez hit 5 of his 9 field goal attempts, while Vasilis Tolias went 4-for-9 from the floor.
• UDC out-rebounded STAC by a 46-40 margin, with Rich Smith grabbing a team-high 12 boards for the Spartans.
• St. Thomas Aquinas picked up five steals, with the Firebirds turning the ball over on 14 separate occasions.
• The Spartans earned advantages in three team statistical categories over District of Columbia: Points off Turnovers (15-11), Second Chance Points (22-12) and Bench Points (40-24).
• The game featured three ties and seven lead changes.
• STAC's largest lead of the contest came late in the second half, when Spartans led by nine points, 71-62.

UDC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Nine Firebirds logged double-digit minutes in the contest. 
• Eric Morgan Jr led all scorers with 25 points, while teammates Vernon Simmons (19pts) and Hartnel Haye (13pts) also scored in double digits.
• Tevin Curtis led UDC with six assists on the evening.
• Morgan Jr went 10-for-22 from the floor, with Vernon Simmons hitting 7 of his 11 field goal attempts.
• Hartnel Haye grabbed a game-high 13 boards for the Firebirds, with Micah Campbell picking up 11 rebounds.
• District of Columbia picked up five steals, with the Spartans turning the ball over on 11 separate occasions.
• The Firebirds earned one advantage in team statistical categories over St. Thomas Aquinas: Points in the Paint (34-30).
• UDC had its largest lead in the game (12 points) at the 5:47 mark of the first half and took a five-point advantage (43-38) into the halftime locker room.

UP NEXT:

STAC wraps up its four-game homestand, hosting the College of Staten Island at Aquinas Hall on Saturday, January 27. The Spartans and Dolphins tip-off at 3:00 p.m. in Sparkill.