The St. Thomas Aquinas College men's basketball overcame a 12-point halftime deficit and defeated Molloy College, 64-63, in an East Coast Conference match-up at Aquinas Hall. Omar Kellman led the way with 21 points as STAC clinched an ECC Tournament berth for the first time since the 2008-09 season, improving to 13-12 overall and 9-10 in ECC play. Molloy slipped to 15-11 overall, and 12-6 in conference play with the loss.

Points were at a premium in the first half, with both teams looking sluggish in playing their second game in three days. An Alushula Odongo layup at the 11:23 mark gave the Spartans an 11-8 lead, but Molloy would roar back with the next eight straight as part of a 14-1 run to grab a 22-12 advantage.

Molloy would raise that edge to 14 points before Marcus Henderson's late hoop sent the hosts into the halftime break trailing by a dozen at 34-22.

With their post-season fate in their own hands, the Spartans found a burst of energy in the second stanza, with an Aaron Cust trey trimming the margin to 34-27. Cust would later hit another from downtown, capping a 7-0 STAC run to close to 38-34.

From there, the battle was engaged, with Molloy extending their lead only to see St. Thomas Aquinas draw close. A John Petrucelli jumper staked the visitors to a 44-36 lead with 13:10 left, but it was time for the Spartans to make their charge.

A Kellman jumper and a Marcus Henderson trey bookended an 11-0 STAC run, pulling the hosts into a 47-44 lead just past the half's midway point. After another Petrucelli hoop, the Spartans would pick up where they left off, scoring the next nine points to cap a 20-2 run and build a stunning 56-46 lead with 6:33 left.

Molloy's high-powered offense was far from done, with a 15-6 answer closing the gap to a narrow 62-61 with just under two minutes to play. An exchange of free throws kept it a one-point contest with STAC trying to expand the lead, when an offensive foul on Eli Maravich opened the door for the Lions with just 7.1 seconds remaining on the clock.

Despite a pestering defense, Petrucelli - the ECC's leading scorer - drove the length of the court, only to see his buzzer-beating layup attempt roll off the rim, sending the Spartans to victory and into the post-season party.

Henderson added 16 points for St. Thomas Aquinas with Aaron Cust adding a big 11 point effort off the bench. Petrucelli led all scorers with 23 points for Molloy, with Matt McLeod adding 18.  The Spartans shot 52% from the field in the second half (13-25) while holding the Lions to just 30% (10-33).

The Spartans will close out the regular season on Sunday, March 3, hosting Roberts Wesleyan College in a 3:00 pm start at Aquinas Hall, with Senior Day festivities preceding the game. STAC will then travel for their quarter-final match in the ECC Tournament on Wednesday, March 5, with opponent and start time to be determined.