The St. Thomas Aquinas College men's basketball team rode an 18-4 run to erase a late deficit in a 75-68 East Coast Conference victory over University of District of Columbia at Aquinas Hall. Justin Brown and TJ Jones netted 23 each for STAC, which snapped a four-game slide to improve to 5-17, 5-8 while UDC fell to 3-18, 2-11.

After the Spartans hit the scoreboard first on an Omar Kellman basket, the Firebirds took off to register the next 10 points and grab an early lead. After extending their lead to 18-9, STAC got off the canvas with a 15-4 run, with a Brown lay-up putting the hosts ahead with five minutes left in the half. UDC would regain the lead but once again the hosts would battle back, tying the score at 30-30 entering halftime on an Alushula Odongo bucket.

With six minutes remaining, a D'Angelo Johnson score would put UDC up 56-51, but the Spartans would take charge from there. Brown and Flynn McFadden would hit treys to put STAC on top, and Jones converted all three free throws in a three-shot foul, to key a 10-0 run and put the hosts up to stay.

Kellman added 15 points and a game-high 12 rebounds for St. Thomas Aquinas, while Keith Brooks led four Firebirds in double-figures with 20 points, with D'Angelo Johnson and Florent Pontens posting 12 each, and Ralph Watts adding 11.

The Spartans return to action this Wednesday, February 13, for an ECC tilt against Mercy College at Aquinas Hall. The men's contest will be the back end of a twin bill slated to start at approximately 7:30 pm, after the conclusion of the women's game.