Wilmington, Del. - Closing out their 2024-2025 regular season road campaign, the St. Thomas Aquinas College Men's Basketball team headed down I-95 for a midweek non-conference tilt with Goldey-Beacom College.

A close affair throughout, saw the Spartans expand a late one-point lead on the strength of two free throws from Deshawne Crim. The host Lightning would get one final chance to tie things up, but an off balance three-point attempt in the final seconds would not go, giving the maroon and gold the thrilling 87-84 road victory on Wednesday evening at the Joseph West Jones Center.

STAC improves to 21-8 overall on the season, while Goldey-Beacom falls to 11-16.

Derrick James recorded a game-high 26 points for the Spartans, while teammates Deshawne Crim (18 points), Troy'reon Ramos (13 points) and Shaun Arnold (12 points) also factored in STAC's totals with each scoring in double figures. Meanwhile, Tre Powell led the host Lightning in scoring with 20 points.

STAC shot 40.8 percent (29-71) from the field and 85.2 percent (23-27) from the foul line, while Goldey-Beacom shot 50.7 percent (34-67) from the floor.

STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Nine Spartans logged double-digit minutes in the non-conference contest. 
• Derrick James also led the maroon and gold with four assists on the night.
• James hit 9 of his 17 field goal attempts and 7-of-7 free throws. Meanwhile, Deshawne Crim went 5-of-11 from the floor and 6-for-8 from the charity stripe.
• STAC out-rebounded Goldey-Beacom by a 47-31 margin, with Shaun Arnold grabbing a game-high 15 boards for the Spartans.
• St. Thomas Aquinas swiped 10 steals, with the Lightning turning the ball over on 17 separate occasions.
• The Spartans earned advantages in two team statistical categories over Goldey-Beacom: Second Chance Points (27-18) and Bench Points (28-23).
• The game featured nine ties and 15 lead changes.
• STAC's largest lead of the game came with just under 12 and a half minutes to play in opening half, when Spartans led by six points, 22-16, on a Tyshon Judge layup.
• St. Thomas Aquinas led Goldey-Beacom 48-46 at the half and shot 43.9 percent (18-41) from the field.
• Derrick James led all scorers with 17 first half points for the Spartans, while shooting 62.5 percent (5-of-8) from the floor, 50.0 percent (1-for-2) from beyond the arc and 100.0 percent (6-for-6) from the foul line.

GOLDEY-BEACOM NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Eight Lightning logged double-digit minutes in the contest. 
• Tre Powell led Goldey-Beacom with 20 points, while Anthony Akande (13 points), Zakari McQueen (12 points) and Shane Taylor (10 points) also scored in double figures.
• Zayon Marsh led Goldey-Beacom with five assists on the evening.
• Powell went 7-for-14 from the floor and 5-of-11 from the long range. Meanwhile, Akande went 6-for-9 from the field.
• Anthony Akande also grabbed a team-high seven boards for the Lightning.
• Goldey-Beacom picked up eight steals, with the Spartans turning the ball over on 14 separate occasions.
• The Lightning earned advantages in three team statistical categories over St. Thomas Aquinas: Points off Turnovers (22-21), Points in the Paint (44-40) and Fastbreak Points (16-12).
• Goldey-Beacom's largest lead of the game came with just under seven and a half minutes to play in opening half, when Lightning led by six points, 34-28, on a Tre Powell free throw.
• Tre Powell led all Lightning scorers with 11 first half points, while shooting 57.1 percent (4-of-7) from the field.

UP NEXT: 

STAC closes out its 2024-25 regular season sked, hosting Mercy University on Saturday, March 1 at Aquinas Hall. The Spartans and Mavericks will tip off at 4:00 p.m., with Senior Day festivities preceding the ECC matchup.