Justin Brown poured in 24 points and Sean James added 18 to lead the St. Thomas Aquinas College men's basketball team to a 85-73 East Coast Conference victory over Roberts Wesleyan College at Aquinas Hall. The victory snaps a five-game losing streak and improves the Spartans to 2-9, 2-1, while Roberts Wesleyan dropped its second game in three days to fall to 5-7, 2-2.

Devin Grimes recorded game-highs of 25 points and 19 rebounds in the setback for RWC, while Omar Kellman added nine points and 11 boards for the Spartans, while teammate Nick Lopez hit double-figures with 11 points.

Roberts got off to a strong start, with a Grimes lay-up staking the visitors to a 15-8 lead just under six minutes into the contest. The Spartans closed the gap quickly with a James three-pointer capping an 8-2 burst to trim the margin to 17-16.

RWC would rebound as Patrick Downer's bucket gave them their largest lead of the day at 35-27 with under five minutes to play in the half. The Spartans would take control thereafter, as once again a James trey got the ball rolling, with a 15-2 run giving STAC a 42-37 halftime lead.

St. Thomas Aquinas would extend that lead to 61-50 midway through the second stanza on a pair of Brown free throws, and while the Redhawks were able to draw within as little as three points at 66-63, the Spartans would again answer with a 7-0 burst to secure the victory.

Despite Roberts Wesleyan's 49-40 advantage in rebounds, the Spartans greatly helped their case at the free throw line, sinking 79% (27-34) to RWC's 44% (11-25).

The Spartans hit the road for their next two contests, traveling to face University of District of Columbia this Wednesday, January 9, and then facing Mercy College on Saturday, January 12. They return to Aquinas Hall to host NYIT on Wednesday, January 16, in a 7:30 pm start - all of the preceding are ECC contests.