Sparkill, N.Y. - A 74-point surge by the St. Thomas Aquinas College bench propelled the Men's Basketball team to a 97-74 victory over the University of Bridgeport on Friday evening at Aquinas Hall Gymnasium. STAC improves to 9-3 and 2-0 in the ECC, winning its fifth straight contest, while the Purple Knights drop to 3-8 and 1-2.

Five different players registered a point for the Spartans, with Jamal Barnes leading the way with 22 points. Elijah Bovell also posted an 18-point night, with Sean Moore chipping in 11 points and DeVante Jamison 10 points.

STAC shot 55.4 percent from the field (41-74) in the conference tilt, while making 11-of-32 buckets from behind the arc. Bridgeport shot 37.9% (25-66) and 8-for-25 from three.

STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS: 

• 11 different players recorded double-digit minutes in the contest. 
• DeVante Jamison led the Spartans with 10 assists in the game.
• Jamal Barnes made 8 of his 12 field goal attempts, with 6-of-10 going from three. Elijah Bovell went 8-for-13 from the floor.
• The Spartans were 18-33 (54.5%) from the field and just 3-11 (27.3%) from downtown in the first half and 23-41 (56.1%) from the floor and 8-21 (38.1%) from three in the second half.
• St. Thomas Aquinas picked up 14 steals in the contest, with Bridgeport turning the ball over on 23 different occasions.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Bridgeport began the matchup with a 5-0 run, before STAC scored its first basket at 18:23 of the first half on a Jerrel Kelly jumper. Back and forth action between the teams dominated most of the first half play, before STAC went on a 12-2 run over the final 3:14 of the opening stanza to take a 42-32 lead at the break.
• Jamal Barnes paced the offense for the Spartans in the first half, with 11 points, while Tim Dawson led all scorers with 13 points for Bridgeport.
• In the second half, STAC's bench would blow the game wide open, scoring 49 of the team's 55 total points in the frame. The Spartan's largest lead of the game came with 10:42 remaining in the contest, as a Vasilis Tolias jump shot extended the maroon and gold lead to 29 at 76-47. The final outcome was never in doubt, as St. Thomas Aquinas would roll to a 97-74 win. 
• STAC's bench recorded 74 of the team's 97 points.
• The Spartans also held margins in points off of turnovers (29-20) and points in the paint (48-35).
• STAC out rebounded Bridgeport 44-39 in 40 minutes of action.

UP NEXT:

STAC returns to action on Sunday afternoon, December 19, facing Roberts Wesleyan College. Opening tip between the Spartans and Redhawks is scheduled for 3:00pm at Aquinas Hall in Sparkill.