In spite of a game-high 22-point effort from Mike Woods, the St. Thomas Aquinas College men's basketball team fell short against Queens College, 68-57, in their East Coast Conference season opener. The defeat was the Spartans' fifth straight.

STAC shot a torrid 53% from the field in a well-played first half which saw several lead changes to take a 38-34 lead into the locker room, and extended that edge to 43-36 with just under 16 minutes left before the visitors went on a tear to take charge. Daniel Watson's three-pointer with 10:54 left capped a 15-5 run that gave the Knights a lead they would not relinquish. The Spartans recorded just eight points over a span of 14:34 before converting a lay-up in the game's dying seconds.

Justin Brown added 11 points for the Spartans while Jeremiah Mordy (16 points), Pat Piasecki (16 points), Edil Lacayo (14), and Daniel Watson (11) led the balanced Queens attack. With the defeat the Spartans fell to 2-5 overall, 0-1 in East Coast Conference play while the Knights improved to 3-3, 2-1.

Tonight's contest was the first of three straight for the Spartans in the friendly confines of Aquinas Hall. Next on the dance card is STAC's first-ever ECC hoops tilt against University of District of Columbia as the DC contingent visits Sparkill this Saturday, December 10, in the nightcap of a twin-bill with the women's teams. The Lady Spartans start matters at 1 pm, with the men following at approximately 3:00. One week later the LeMoyne College women's team pays a call on December 17, again at 1:00 pm, followed by the men taking on Rockland Country rival Dominican College. If you can't be there in person to be part of the Aquinas Hall Edge, you can catch all the video online via New Media Television Sports and follow along with our new Live Stats feature - just click the appropriate links on the team schedule page.