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Four Spartans Score in Double-Figures, as STAC Opens New Season with 78-56 Victory over Rockhurst

Four Spartans Score in Double-Figures, as STAC Opens New Season with 78-56 Victory over Rockhurst

Game Leaders

St. Thomas Aquinas
Pts: 2 Players (#15, #21) - 18
Reb: Osbel Caraballo - 11
Ast: Grant Singleton - 4
Rockhurst
Pts: Rich Byhre - 12
Reb: TEAM - 8
Ast: Spencer Moes - 3

Team Stats

St. Thomas Aquinas
Rockhurst

Field Goals

(33-77)
(23-54)

Field Goal %

42.9%
42.6%

Rebounds

39
42

Assists

13
10

Turnovers

9
27

Pts off Turnovers

29
5

2nd Chance Pts

12
10

Pts in the Paint

50
32

Fastbreak Pts

24
7

Bench Pts

41
20
full stats
Posted: Nov 06, 2021

St. Joseph, Mo. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Men's Basketball team opened its 2021-22 season with a 78-56 triumph over Rockhust University on Saturday afternoon at the Small College Basketball National Hall of Fame Classic in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Nine different players recorded a point for the Spartans (1-0), with Osbel Caraballo leading the way with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Jamal Barnes also posted an 18-point day, with Grant Singleton and Sean Moore each chipping in 10 points apiece.

STAC shot 42.9 percent from the field (33-77) in the season opener, while making 7-of-10 free throws. Rockhurst shot 42.6% (23-54) and made half of their 12 free throw attempts.

STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS: 

  • Nine different players recorded double-digit minutes in the contest. 
  • Grant Singleton led the Spartans with 4 assists in his season debut.
  • Osbel Caraballo made 8 of his 13 field goal attempts on the day, with Jamal Barnes going 7-for-11.
  • STAC scored the game's first basket at 19:36 of the first half on a Demetre Roberts free throw and held onto the lead for the remainder of the contest. 
  • The Spartans were 16-40 (40%) from the field in the first half and 17-37 (46%) in the second half.
  • St. Thomas Aquinas picked up 22 steals in the contest, setting a new single game record for steals at the Small College Basketball National Hall of Fame Classic. 
  • STAC has now won four consecutive season openers.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

  • St. Thomas Aquinas was strong from the opening tip, scoring its first basket 24 seconds into the game and taking that lead to the final buzzer.
  • Jamal Barnes paced the offense for the Spartans in the first half, with 10 points.
  • STAC's largest lead in the first half was 18 (35-17) with 2:28 left in the opening frame.
  • That trend continued into the second half, with STAC building a 24-point advantage midway through the second stanza. 
  • STAC's bench scored 41 of the team's 78 total points.
  • St. Thomas Aquinas logged 30 fast-break points and 50 points inside of the paint.

UP NEXT: St. Thomas Aquinas returns to the court on Sunday in the team's final game at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic, when they take on Missouri Western State University at 7:45 p.m. Live stat and video links will be available at STACAthletics.com.