The St. Thomas Aquinas College men's basketball team clinched its second straight East Coast Conference regular season championship with a 99-74 triumph at the University of the District of Columbia. The Spartans captured their 16th straight victory to improve to 22-4 overall, and their 16-2 record has now clinched the top seed for the ECC Tournament and a bye into the March 5 semi-finals at UDC.

Ranked #6 in the East Region, the Spartans saw the hosts grab a 14-11 lead on a Martin Campbell but Watler helped STAC battle through a sluggish start to a 26-23 lead with just under six minutes to play in the first half.

As they have done so often during their streak, the Spartans struck in lightning fashion, reeling off nine points in a span of 42 seconds - capped by a Jon Lawton three-pointer - and scoring the next 11 overall in just over a minute, leading to a a 46-31 gap at halftime.

UDC managed to draw within 54-44 on a Jayone Troutman jumper with 15 minutes to play, but STAC's depth again prevailed, as the visitors pulled away from that point to cruise to the win. Lawton hit another trey to cap an 11-3 burst, making the score 65-47, and a 16-point deficit was as close as the Firebirds were to come the rest of the evening.

Chaz Watler spurred the deep STAC attack with a game-high 21 points, Jonathan Lawton posted 18 off the bench, and Justin Reyes added 12 and a team high 11 rebounds. Joseph Nickerson led four Firebirds in double-figures with 16 points, but the Spartans lit up the perimeter with 11-of-18 shooting (61%) from three point range, while their swarming defense caused 25 turnovers, 23 of which were credited as steals.

The Spartans have two games remaining in the regular season, traveling to face the University of Bridgeport on Wednesday, February 24, before wrapping up the home campaign at Aquinas Hall against Dowling College on Saturday, February 27. Senior Day festivities precede the 3:30 pm tip off, which will serve as the back end of a double-header featuring the women's teams.

- Steve Balsan, St. Thomas Aquinas Sports Information

- Photo by Dorice Arden