The St. Thomas Aquinas College men's basketball team held off the University of Bridgeport for a 93-85 East Coast Conference win at Aquinas Hall. The victory was the 7th straight for the Spartans, who stand at 13-4 overall and 7-2 in league play, with Bridgeport dropping to 8-7, 6-2. STAC also moved into second place in the ECC standings, just 1/2 game behind leader LIU Post.

Shaq McFarlan gave the hosts the lead by scoring the game's first five points, but Devon Elliott matched that total to tie the score at 5-5. STAC's defense forced five turnovers in the next six possessions and the Spartans grabbed an 11-5 lead. That margin stood at 21-14 nearing the midway point of the half when Justin Reyes' three-pointer sparked a 10-0 run, and when the dust settled the Spartans had opened the gap to 42-22 before settling for a 47-31 halftime cushion.

Bridgeport would rally, however, with D'Vonne Trumbo chipping in five points as the visitors started the second half on a 14-2 run to draw to within 49-45. The Purple Knights closed the gap to 55-52 with 13:35 to play, but a pair of Jon Lawton free throws and a Watler bucket opened breathing room at 59-52. Watler's three-point play topped off a 13-2 run, and the Spartans appeared back in control at 67-55 midway through the half.

After STAC opened the margin to 72-57 with eight minutes left, the Purple Knights would charge again, with a 15-4 burst making the tally 76-72 with over three minutes to play. Watler proceeded to make one of two free throws, and Ernest Rouse trimmed the score to 77-74 with 2:45 left.

For the second time, the Purple Knights were within three points and again, the Spartans would answer without allowing their adversaries a chance to tie the score, as Reyes converted a spectacular finger-roll lay-up into a three-point play with 2:16 on the clock. The teams would trade points from there as the game would not be within one possession from that point, with the Spartans hitting nine consecutive free throws to seal the deal in the final minutes.

Justin Reyes added 18 points and a game-high eight rebounds for STAC, with Aaron Cust chipping in 15. Muhammed Ahmed paced Bridgeport with 20 points and seven rebounds. The Spartans shot an impressive 85% (28-of-33) from the line to secure the victory.

The Spartans will head to Long Island to face Dowling College on Friday, January 22, at 5:00 pm. It is the first of three straight ECC road tilts before returning to Aquinas Hall to host NYIT on Wednesday, February 3, at 8:00 pm.

Please Note - Due to the impending inclement weather forecast for Saturday, the scheduled double-header at Dowling will now be played on FRIDAY, JANUARY 22. Women's action starts at 3:00 pm, followed by the men at 5:00 pm.

- Steve Balsan, St. Thomas Aquinas Sports Information

- Photo by Dorice Arden