The St. Thomas Aquinas College men's basketball team is the East Coast Conference Regular Season Champs. Following is a timeline of their historic 2014-15 run, which continues in the ECC semi-finals on Saturday, March 7.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014 - Bob Hurley Addresses STAC Tipoff Dinner - Just two weeks after the opening of pre-season training, the Spartans are introduced at a formal dinner at the Rockland Country Club. Hall of Fame Coach Bob Hurley, of St. Anthony's High School fame, is the keynote speaker and sits for a fireside interview along with STAC Coach Tobin Anderson.

Saturday, November 8, 2014 - Spartans Put a Scare into St. John's - STAC's ambitious schedule starts with a nationally-broadcast exhibition tilt against St. John's University at the famed Carnesecca Arena. The Spartans lead by as many as nine points in the first half before the Storm rally for the win. (Note - Archived broadcast of this game from ESPN3 is available here)

Saturday, November 22, 2014 - Going, Going, Gonzaga! - The Spartans accept a bid to the National Invitation Tournament, and with it a trip to Spokane, Washington to face Gonzaga University. The Bulldogs, currently ranked #7 in the nation in Division I, pull away for the victory but in the moral victory department, STAC held a 5-2 lead and the game was at one point tied 10-10. (Note - Gonzaga broadcast of this game can be accessed here)

Saturday, November 29, 2014 - NIT Finale - In their final NIT tourney appearance, the Spartans again take an early lead before falling at Division I Stony Brook.

Saturday, December 6, 2014 - Spartans Fall to Bridgeport - STAC holds a halftime lead, but the rematch of the previous season's ECC Tourney final has the same result. Despite the loss in their conference opener and a 2-5 record to start the season, St. Thomas Aquinas perseveres, and better days are close at hand.

Saturday, December 13, 2014 - STAC Prevails at Dowling - Last March, the Spartans' improbable run to the ECC Championship game went through #1 seed Dowling, and STAC holds off the revenge-minded Golden Lions for its first conference win, paced by Chaz Watler and Justin Reyes with 15 each. The win touches off a streak of four straight.

Friday, January 16, 2015 - Spartans Shock Daemen in Home Win to Start Streak - Daemen falls from the ranks of the ECC unbeaten as STAC opens a stunning 18-point second half lead en route to victory. Chaz Watler shoots out the lights with 32 points, and the Spartans have taken their first step on an eventual eight-game winning streak.

Monday, January 29, 2015 - The Battle for First; Spartans Finally Prevail at Bridgeport - A strong second-half run streaks St. Thomas Aquinas past Bridgeport on the Purple Knights' home court, despite some anxious moments late. Seven different Spartans record double-figures in scoring in the Swarm attack that is becoming the team's trademark.

January 31/February 4, 2015 - Back-to-Back Smacks - The Spartans serve notice with a pair of impressive wins at Aquinas Hall. The triumphs over Dowling and Queens, both in excess of 30 points, are two of the top three most one-sided victories in the conference for the entire season.

Saturday, February 14, 2015 - The Revenge Factor; STAC Tops LIU Post to Earn ECC Bye - Avenging its earlier overtime setback on Long Island, the Spartans ride Watler's 16 points to a 68-64 victory. More importantly, STAC holds a share of first place, and clinches a first round ECC Tourney bye for the first time in the program's history.

Saturday, February 28, 2015 - Regular Season Grand Finale; Spartans Clinch First - St. Thomas Aquinas leaves little doubt, jumping to an early lead and cruising over UDC. Via the tiebreaker over Bridgeport, the Spartans take home the #1 seed in the conference, and their first-ever Regular Season Championship.

Saturday, March 7, 2015 - St. Thomas Aqunas Takes #1 Seed into ECC Tournament - The story has yet to be completed as the Spartans take the bye into the semi-finals of the East Coast Conference Tournament. They will play on Saturday, March 7, at 5:00 pm against the winner of the Molloy/LIU Post contest, with the winner of that game advancing to Sunday's finale at 2:30 pm. All of the weekend's contests will be held at LIU Post, and the winner of the conference playoff tourney earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Tournament.