The St. Thomas Aquinas College men's basketball team rallied from a 21-point deficit to within one before falling, 79-75, in an East Coast Conference battle at Aquinas Hall. Aaron Cust led all scorers with 26 points but his Spartans dropped their third straight, falling to 6-5 overall and 2-3 in the ECC. Daemen improved to 6-5, 3-3 with the road win.

If there were any ill effects to be seen after the lengthy holiday layoff, they were not apparent on Daemen's side in the first half. The Wildcats used a 9-0 run to break a 6-6 tie, and the Spartans did not have an answer for their fast pace in the early going.

Torrid shooting from the field as well as the foul line led the visitors to a decisive 40-19 lead with five minutes still to play in the first half before the Spartans began to show signs of life. Chaz Watler hit a bucket followed by a Cust three, and STAC finished the half with a 17-9 burst to draw within 49-36 at the break.

St. Thomas Aquinas went on a 13-4 spurt early in the second stanza to pull to within 55-49 with over 15 minutes still remaining, as Daemen's shooting touch finally cooled off. The Wildcats seemed to have weathered the storm as STAC went the next four minutes without scoring but still only trailed, 59-49.

A Cust lay-up brought the hosts to within 61-58 at the midway point of the half and the battle was on, with Daemen extending their lead only to see the Spartans battle back. With 90 seconds left and Daemen up by 74-69, STAC would make one final push at the second half heroics that have become their trademark this season.

Jon McNair made one of two free throws with 1:13 left to trim the margin to four, and Cust's explosive lay-up made the score 74-72, with Cust headed to the line and just 43 seconds left. Though he would miss the foul shot, McNair sailed in for the rebound and Marcus Henderson drew a foul with 39 ticks left. Henderson would make one of two, bringing the Spartans to within 74-73.

Daemen's Casey Sheehan would miss a lay-up with 28 seconds left, but Henderson would turn the ball over seconds later on a strong defensive play, with the Wildcats putting the game away at the foul line.

Watler added 13 points for the Spartans, with Henderson adding 11 points and eight assists. Gerald Beverly was a force for Daemen, scoring 25 points while swatting eight blocks and grabbing six rebounds. Uchechi Ogbonna added 13 points and Sheehan recorded 12 for Daemen.

The Spartans continue the new year at home this Wednesday night, January 8, when Queens College visits Aquinas Hall for a 7:30 start, after the completion of the women's game starting at 5:30. STAC will then host Molloy College on Saturday, January 11 starting at 3:00 pm, again after the women's tilt. Both of those contests are East Coast Conference match-ups.