The St. Thomas Aquinas College men's basketball team topped Queens College, 78-65 in an East Coast Conference tilt at Aquinas Hall. Chaz Watler led four Spartans in double-figures with a game-high 20 points as his squad snapped a three-game skid to improve to 7-5 overall, 3-3 ECC. Queens remained winless on the season, falling to 0-12, 0-6.

After an early exchange of baskets, STAC utilized sharp perimeter shooting to take off on a 16-7 run, turning a one point edge into a 24-14 lead with nine minutes to play in the first half. A Patrick Modzelewski hoop would draw the visitors to within 30-27 minutes later, but treys by Eli Maravich and Marcus Henderson keyed a 10-2 run to put the Spartans in a 40-29 lead.

Queens would trim that deficit to 42-37 at the break, and an early "and-one" from Patrick Parker brought the Knights to within two points. Watler would begin to heat up, however, and STAC's 15-6 run reestablished their 11-point cushion at 57-46.

A Jeremiah Mordi basket with 8:28 left brought Queens to within five at 59-54, but a balanced attack would lead the Spartans to an 11-1 run, giving them a lead that would not be threatened.

Joining Watler in the double-figures parade were Henderson (19 points), Jon McNair (12) and Omar Kellman (10). On the Queens side, Mordi led the way with 13 points in his first game of the season, while teammates Modzelewski and Dallas Serrano chipped in with 12 each.

Both teams shot extremely well from the field, with Queens hitting for 63% and STAC recording 60% shooting. The home squad took the board battle, 24-16.

The Spartans hit the floor again this Saturday, January 11, when Molloy College pays a visit to Aquinas Hall for another ECC battle. Game time is set for 3:00 pm, as the back end of a double header after the completion of the women's game that starts at 1:00.