James Ockimey posted 11 points and Omar Kellman added 10 to go with a game-high nine rebounds but it wasn't enough as the St. Thomas Aquinas College men's basketball team fell to Bridgeport, 62-55 at Aquinas Hall. The setback was the Spartans' second straight, dropping their record to 7-10 overall and 3-5 in the East Coast Conference, while the Purple Knights improved to 11-7, 6-2.

The evening's opening minutes featured a defensive struggle, as Sam Wilson hit a three for STAC just past the midway point of the first half to deadlock the score at 12-12. Daniel Skinner's lay-up just 20 seconds later would give the Spartans the largest lead they would enjoy, as Bridgeport battled back to earn a 28-22 halftime edge.

More of the same was in store for the second stanza, with the vistors extending their cusion to as many as nine points, only to see the hosts claw back, drawing to within two points on three separate occasions. The Spartans had several opportunities to tie the affair or take the lead, but unlike their recent stretch which saw STAC win five of six contests, they were unable to find the big play at the right time.

Bridgeport's William Harrison led all scorers with 17 points while teammates Hakeem Rodriguez (13 points) and Darian David (12 points, seven steals) provided the scoring depth. The Purple Knights shot 43% from the field (23-54) while holding STAC to 40% (18-45). Bridgeport had a decisive edge on the glass by a 39-30 edge, and their defense accounted for 17 steals in all.

The Spartans will enter the home stretch by playing six of their next eight on the road, starting this Saturday, January 28, when they travel to our nation's capital to face the University of the District of Columbia in a 3:00 pm start. They will then square off at Queens College in a 7:30 pm tipoff on Wednesday, February 1 before returning home to take on Molloy in a 3:00 pm matinee on Saturday, February 4. All of these contests are part of double-headers following games featuring the women's squads.