The St. Thomas Aquinas College men's basketball team saw Marcus Henderson hit a basket and a free throw with 3.0 seconds left to defeat Wilmington University, 78-77 at Aquinas Hall. Omar Kellman added a game-high 25 points in the comeback victory as the Spartans improved to 1-1 on the season with the first victory in Coach Tobin Anderson's tenure. Wilmington fell to 0-3 with the setback.
Playing their second straight home game to start the season, the Spartans got off on the right foot, utilizing an 11-2 run in the early going to open a 7-point lead at 11-4 after seven minutes of play. Wilmington turned up the defensive pressure, however, sparking an 18-5 outburst over a five minute span and leading to a 37-30 lead at the halftime break.
The second half was a tug-of-war, with STAC battling back to trim the deficit to as little as two pionts, but the Wildcats consistently expanding it to as many as nine, with neither team able to deal the knockout blow.
Kellman, who had just two points after sitting much of the first half with two early fouls, was a major presence in keeping the Spartans' hopes alive, netting 23 points in the second stanza before fouling out with 1:01 remaining and STAC trailing, 73-71. Wilmington's Prophet Kates made both free throws, staking the visitors to a four-point advantage.
In need of new heroes, it was time for the Spartans' new point guard to display a presence much bigger than his 5'5" frame.
With time winding down, Herbert Dennis went to the stripe for Wilmington but missed a pair, opening the door for the hosts with 40 seconds remaining. Sam Wilson's short jumper brought STAC to within 75-73 with 25 ticks on the clock, and the Spartans nearly stole the ensuing inbounds pass before fouling Kates to sent him back to the line.
Kates made one of two, giving the Wildcats a three-point edge with 24 seconds left. Despite having a chance to tie the game on a three-pointer, Henderson elected to drive the lane for a lay-up to cut the score to 76-75 with 14 seconds left, the first time the Spartans had drawn within one point the entire half.
Once again, a quick foul would test the visitors to win the game at the foul line, but after making his first foul shot, Valintino Thompson front-rimmed the second. Wilson battled for the rebound and found Henderson, who drove the length of the court in spite of tough defensive pressure.
Not to be denied, Henderson attacked the basket, with his finger-roll kissing the glass and finding net, as Kates was whistled for the foul with 3.0 seconds remaining, sending Aquinas Hall into a frenzy. Henderson calmly sank the game-winner from the line, and Chaz Watler's steal off the inbound pass salted away the win.
In addition to Kellman's outstanding performance, Henderson added 13 points, Eli Maravich posted 12 (on four three-pointers), and Alshula Odongo and Matt Darnell added nine each. Wilmington had four scorers record double-figures, paced by Rasheed Rashawn (16 points), Dennis (14), Tyaire Ponzo-Meek (13) and Thompson (12).
As it was down the stretch, foul shooting played a key role in the decision, with Wilmington shooting just 57% (20-35) while the Spartans drained 12-of-16 attempts for a 75% showing.
The Spartans return to Aquinas Hall to play the third of their season-opening five-game homestand on Saturday, November 16, hosting Stonehill College in a 5:00 pm start. They will then tip off the East Coast Confernce schedule one week later, on Saturday, November 23, when the University of District of Columbia pays a call to Aquinas Hall. Tip off is set for 3:00 pm, as the back end of a double-header with the women's teams squaring off at 1:00 pm.