Sparkill, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Men's Basketball team repelled a late second half surge by the visiting Roberts Wesleyan College Redhawks to pick up its sixth consecutive victory, 94-87 on Sunday afternoon at Aquinas Hall in Sparkill.

Ten different players recorded a point for the Spartans (10-3, 3-0 ECC), with four starters scoring in double-figures. Demetre Roberts led the way with 22 points, as Osbel Caraballo recorded 17 points and both Antonio Vendola and Jerrel Kelly chipping in 13 points apiece.

STAC shot 47.1 percent from the field (32-68) in contest, while making 11-of-27 (40.7%) shots from behind the arc and 19-of-24 (79.2%) from the foul line. Meanwhile, Roberts Wesleyan shot 53.4% (31-58) and made 22-of-29 (75.9%) free throws.

STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Nine different players recorded double-digit minutes in the contest. 
• Grant Singleton led the Spartans with seven assists on the afternoon.
• Demetre Roberts made 6 of his 11 field goal attempts, with 2-of-4 going from three. Osbel Caraballo went 7-for-12 from the floor.
• The Spartans were 18-37 (48.6%) from the field and 6-14 (42.9%) from downtown in the first half and 14-31 (45.2%) from the floor and 5-13 (38.5%) from three in the second half.
• St. Thomas Aquinas picked up 10 steals in the game, with Roberts Wesleyan turning the ball over on 18 different occasions.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Back and forth action between the teams dominated large spans of the first half. However, STAC was able to take an eight-point advantage (49-41) to the locker room at the end of 20 minutes of play.
• Osbel Caraballo and Demetre Roberts paced the offense for the Spartans in the first half with 11 points each, while Fope Okuyiga led all scorers with 12 points for Roberts Wesleyan.
• When the teams returned to the court for the second half, the score remained close between the squads, until the hosts in maroon and gold built its largest lead of the game, 16 points (81-65), with 7:20 left to play.
• Roberts Wesleyan would surge back and close the deficit to four (90-86), before St. Thomas Aquinas closed out the contest on a 4-1 run, all via free-throws, to increase their lead to seven and remain perfect on home court.
• STAC's bench recorded 22 of the team's 94 points.
• The Spartans also held a slim 21-16 advantage in points off of turnovers.
• STAC out rebounded Roberts Wesleyan 37-35 in 40 minutes of action.

UP NEXT:

St. Thomas Aquinas College will now take a break for the Christmas holiday and return to action for one final game in calendar year 2021 on Thursday, December 30 against the College of Saint Rose. Tip-off is set for 2pm at Aquinas Hall Gym in Sparkill.