Queens, N.Y. - All five starters scored in double figures on Saturday afternoon, as the St. Thomas Aquinas College Men's Basketball team won its fifth straight contest, a 75-68 road triumph over Queens College at Fitzgerald Gymnasium.

STAC improves to 20-8 overall and 12-3 in ECC action, while Queens slips to 10-16 and 6-8.

Hartnel Haye recorded a game-high 18 points for the maroon and gold, while teammates Luis Risquez (15 points), Shaun Arnold (13 points), Troy'reon Ramos (13 points) and Derrick James (10 points) also factored in the Spartans' totals with each scoring in double figures. Meanwhile, Shamar Chester led the host Knights in scoring with 17 points.

STAC shot 33.8 percent from the field (26-77), while Queens shot 28.8 percent (19-66) from the floor.

STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Eight Spartans logged double-digit minutes in the conference contest. 
• Derrick James led the maroon and gold with five assists on the day.
• Hartnel Haye hit 5 of his 11 field goal attempts and 8-of-10 free throws. Meanwhile, Luis Risquez went 4-of-10 from the floor and 6-for-8 from the charity stripe.
• STAC out-rebounded Queens by a 57-49 margin, with Luis Risquez also grabbing a game-high 15 boards for the Spartans.
• St. Thomas Aquinas swiped eight steals, with the Knights turning the ball over on 19 separate occasions.
• The Spartans earned advantages in three team statistical categories over Queens: Second Chance Points (23-12), Points in the Paint (38-26) and Fastbreak Points (17-7).
• The game featured no ties and no lead changes.
• STAC's largest lead of the game came with just under 10 seconds to play in opening half, when Spartans led by 18 points, 37-19, on a Hartnel Haye free throw.
• St. Thomas Aquinas led Queens 37-19 at the half and shot 32.5 percent (13-40) from the field.
• Luis Risquez led all scorers with nine first half points for the Spartans, while shooting 50.0 percent (3-of-6) from the floor and three-point (1-for-2) and 100.0 percent (2-for-2) from the foul line.
• Hartnel Haye (18 points, 12 rebounds), Luis Risquez (15 points, 15 rebounds) and Shaun Arnold (13 points, 10 rebounds) all achieved double-doubles in Saturday's matchup with the Knights.
• St. Thomas Aquinas has now won 17 straight contests against Queens College going back to January 27, 2016.

QUEENS NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Nine Knights logged double-digit minutes in the contest. 
• Shamar Chester led Queens with 16 points, while Damiri Lindo (14 points), Nasan Ayala (12 points) and Jaden Pena (11 points) also scored in double figures.
• Ayala, Chester and Pena also led Queens with two assists apiece on the afternoon.
• Chester went 2-for-9 from the floor and 11-of-13 from the foul line. Meanwhile, Lindo went 5-for-12 from the field.
• Nasan Ayala also grabbed a team-high nine boards for the Knights.
• Queens picked up eight steals, with the Spartans turning the ball over on 17 separate occasions.
• The Knights earned one advantage in the team statistical categories over St. Thomas Aquinas: Bench Points (20-6).
• Shamar Chester and Jaden Pena led all Knights scorers with five first half point each.

UP NEXT:

STAC closes out its 2024-25 regular season road sked, visiting Goldey-Beacom College on Wednesday, February 26. Opening tip set for 6:00 p.m. at the Joseph West Jones Center in Wilmington, Delaware.