The St. Thomas Aquinas College Men's Basketball team opens its quest for a second NCAA D2 East Region title in program history, taking the #2 seed into Saturday's opener against #7 Post University at 2:30 p.m. at the Vincent C. Ross Sports Center on the campus of Saint Michael's College in Colchester, Vt.
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How They Got Here:
Regular Season - St. Thomas Aquinas went 11-1 in the first half (November & December 2023), with the season's longest win streak (9 games) from November 19 to January 4. Second half action (January, February & March 2024) saw STAC post a 12-4 record, with the season's second longest win streak (8 games) from January 19 to February 14. The Spartans have lost back-to-back games on two occasions this season (Jan. 4 at Jefferson & Jan. 14 at Roberts Wesleyan and Feb. 14 vs. Dominican & Feb. 16 at Daemen).
Post Season - The Spartans captured their fourth straight ECC Regular Season title (7th in last 10 seasons) and earned a bye to the semifinals, where they pushed past Roberts Wesleyan University, 79-71, to advance to the championship game. James Patterson (22pts & 12rebs) and Rich Smith (12pts & 12 rebs) recorded double-doubles in the contest, while Kyle Pulliam (20pts) and Ethan Millirons (13pts) also scored in double figures. STAC's appearance in the championship game was the team's fifth in a row, and they went on to dispatch Daemen University, 77-66 to win the program's eighth ECC crown in the last nine years. In the matchup between the Spartans and Wildcats, Kyle Pulliam posted a 21-point effort, while James Patterson had 19 points. Lawrence Foreman and Luis Risquez grabbed a game-high 11 boards apiece.
The Match-Up, Familiar Foes Clash - This will be the second time St. Thomas Aquinas College plays Post University during the 2023-2024 season. The Spartans and Eagles squared off on November 18, 2023 in the STAC Basketball Classic at Aquinas Hall Gymnasium in Sparkill. Down three in the final seconds of regulation, Ethan Millirons heaved up a prayer of a shot from a step over half court that would swish through the net to tie the game at 98-98 and force overtime. In the extra session, Post outscored STAC 11 to 9, but the game once again came down to a final shot, this one by the Eagles' Bol Akot to secure a 109-107 OT victory for the visitors from Waterbury.
On the afternoon Bol Akot paced the Post offense with 41 points, while Roberts Sanders (17pts), Deng Deang (15pts) and TaQuan Willams (13pts) also posted double figures in scoring. STAC received a 41-point effort of their own from James Patterson, while Deshawne Crim (12pts), Jamal Barnes (11pts) and Vasilis Tolias (10pts) also recorded double-digit point totals.
Spartans in the Post-Season - The Spartans won the ECC crown in 2024 under Matt Capell and this is the team's ninth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, with the seven trips (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022) coming under former coach Tobin Anderson and the last two appearances (2023, 2024) coming under Capell's watch. St. Thomas Aquinas College is 9-6 in 15 previous NCAA East Region postseason matchups.
All-Conference Selections – St. Thomas Aquinas placed three players in this year's ECC post-season awards:
James Patterson – ECC Player of the Year/First Team All-Conference – Patterson now a two-time All-Conference First Team honoree after earning Rookie of the Year honors a season ago, was the selection as the league's top player after leading the ECC in regular-season scoring with 24.0 points per game, which currently ranks him fourth in the nation. The STAC standout also led the ECC in total points (671, fifth nationally), free throws made (175, ninth nationally) and field goals made (221, 11th nationally), ranked second in total rebounds (232), sat third in rebounds per game (8.3, with 5.9 defensive) and total steals (47) and finished fourth in steals per game (1.68) and sixth in both field goal percentage (44.0) and free throw percentage (77.8). Patterson turned in 11 double-doubles, which ranked second in the ECC and 15th nationally, and scored in double figures 27 times in 28 games, including 23 20+ point games, five 30+ point games, and a 41-point game against Post on November 18. In an impressive feat, Patterson scored his 1000th point - as a sophomore - at Daemen on February 16.
Kyle Pulliam – ECC Second Team All-Conference – Pulliam placed first in both the ECC and with the Spartans in three-point field goal percentage at 45.2 percent. The sophomore guard from Silver Spring, Maryland finished second on the team in scoring with 13.7 points per game and 383 total points, along with assists per game (1.8) and total assists (51). Pulliam's overall field goal percentage of 47.0 percent put him second on the squad between his Spartan teammates Rich Smith (1st) and James Patterson (3rd).
Rich Smith – ECC Second Team All-Conference - Smith led the STAC and the ECC in assists per game with 5.4 and total assists with 152. The sophomore guard from the Bronx, New York also ranks first on the team in total blocked shots (15) and blocks per game (0.5), while placing second on the team in total rebounds (181), rebounds per game (6.5), total steals (44, also 5th in ECC) and steals per game (1.6). He also averaged 9.4 points per game and totaled 262 points to finish fourth in scoring on the squad in the regular season. Additionally, Smith earned a pair of ECC Defensive Player of the Week accolades during the year.
All-Region Nods – James Patterson earned a Division II Conference Commissioner's Association First Team All-East selection, as announced by D2CCA on Friday.
Bevo Francis Watch – Patterson has also been selected to the Bevo Francis Award Top 25 Watch List, as announced on Friday by Small College Basketball and the National Awards Committee.
The Clarence "Bevo" Francis Award is presented annually to the player who has had the finest overall season within Small College Basketball. Considerations will be season statistics and individual achievements, awards, personal character and team achievements. This is an incredibly prestigious award, as this award will only be given to one player within Small College Basketball per season.
James Patterson is the fourth Spartan to headline the Bevo Francis Award Top 100 Watch List, with Justin Reyes (2016-17 & 2017-18), Osbel Caraballo (2021-22) and Demetre Roberts (2021-22) all being selected in previous seasons. Patterson and Reyes are the only two Spartans to advance to both the Top 50 and Top 25 Watch Lists, with Reyes advancing the furthest in the awards voting, making the Top 10 Finalists List in both years that he was nominated.
A Winning Recipe - St. Thomas Aquinas' style of play, solid coaching and roster make-up give the Spartans a winning formula year-to-year, from the season opener to the NCAA Tournament. That is no different in 2023-24, as STAC's record each month shows a level of excellence within the East Region. November 7-1, December 4-0, January 5-2, February 6-2, March (to date) 3-0.
Everyone Plays a Role – Head Coach Matt Capell has had a stable core of starters this season, with Rich Smith and Kyle Pulliam starting all 30 games, and James Patterson and Lawrence Foreman starting 28.
Starting Five Combinations
Foreman, Patterson, Smith, Pulliam, Barnes (24)
Foreman, Patterson, Smith, Pulliam, Millirons (2)
Foreman, Tolias, Smith, Pulliam, Barnes (1)
Risquez, Patterson, Smith, Pulliam, Barnes (1)
Risquez, Patterson, Smith, Pulliam, Millirons (1)
Foreman, Arnold, Smith, Pulliam, Millirons (1)
Hitting The Century Mark – While the Spartans can hoop with the best of the best in the East Region, the maroon and gold have hit the century mark in points on nine occasions in 2023-24, with their record being 7-2 in those contests.
1,000-Point Duo – Spartans Jamal Barnes and James Patterson joined the prestigious 1,000-Point Club during the 2023-2024 Season. Barnes reached the mark in his senior season on January 21, 2024 in a 106-68 home victory over D'Youville University, while Patterson eclipsed the total in only his sophomore campaign on February 16, 2024 in an 87-82 road setback at Daemen University.
2024 NCAA EAST REGIONAL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Saturday, March 16 - Quarterfinals
Game 1: #6 Bloomfield vs. #3 Southern New Hampshire - 12 p.m.
Game 2: #7 Post vs. #2 St. Thomas Aquinas - 2:30 p.m.
Game 3: #8 Southern Connecticut State vs. #1 Saint Michael's - 5 p.m.
Game 4: #5 Jefferson vs. #4 Daemen - 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 17 - Semifinals
Game 5: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 - 5 p.m.
Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 - 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 19 - Championship
Game 7: Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6 - 7 p.m.
2023 NCAA DIVISION II MEN'S BASKETBALL EAST REGION
No. 1 seed – Saint Michael's (22-8, 17-5 NE10) - NE10 Regular Season Champions & Tournament Semifinalist
No. 2 seed – St. Thomas Aquinas (25-5, 14-2 ECC) - ECC Regular Season & Tournament Champions
No. 3 seed – Southern New Hampshire (21-10, 13-9 NE10) - NE10 Tournament Champions
No. 4 seed – Daemen (24-8, 12-4 ECC) - ECC Tournament Runner-Up
No. 5 seed – Jefferson (23-8, 12-4 CACC South) - CACC South Regular Season Champions & Tournament Champions
No. 6 seed – Bloomfield (22-9, 11-5 CACC North) - CACC North Regular Season Champions & Tournament Runner-Up
No. 7 seed – Post (20-9, 10-6 CACC North) - CACC Tournament Semifinalist
No. 8 seed – Southern Connecticut State (22-10, 13-9 NE10) - NE10 Tournament Runner-Up
TICKETS
$10 - Adults
$5 - Children (ages 5-17)
$5 - Seniors (65+)
$5 - Students with a valid ID
Free - Children younger than 5
Session 1 - Games 1 and 2
Session 2 - Games 3 and 4
Session 3 - Games 5 and 6
Session 4 - Championship Game
Tickets can be purchased at the door.
Per NCAA policy, no complimentary admissions will be issued.
MERCHANDISE
NCAA Championship apparel will be available for purchase at the site of competition.
Electronic payment preferred.