Sparkill, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Men's Basketball team wrapped up their schedule for calendar year 2024 by winning a third straight contest on Saturday, defeating Jefferson University 86-71 at Aquinas Hall.

STAC improves to 8-5 on the season, while Jefferson slips to 8-4.

Derrick James recorded a game-high 16 points for the maroon and gold, while teammates Shaun Arnold (14 points), Troy'reon Ramos (13 points), Hartnel Haye (12 points) and Deshawn Crim (12 points) made significant contributions to the Spartans' scoring totals with each posting double figures. Meanwhile, Farouk Kaba led the visiting Rams in scoring, also tallying a game-high 16 points.

STAC shot 50.0 percent from the field (36-72), while Jefferson shot 41.8 percent (23-55) from the floor.

STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Eight Spartans logged double-digit minutes in the non-conference contest. 
• Derrick James led the maroon and gold with seven assists on the day.
• James hit 8 of his 13 field goal attempts. Meanwhile, Shaun Arnold went 6-of-8 from the floor, with two of his three shots hitting the mark from distance.
• STAC out-rebounded Jefferson by a slim 41-29 margin, with Hartnel Haye grabbing a game-high ten boards for the Spartans.
• St. Thomas Aquinas picked up 10 steals, with the Rams turning the ball over on 17 separate occasions.
• The Spartans earned advantages in three team statistical categories over Jefferson: Points Off Turnovers (18-13), Second Chance Points (21-8) and Points in the Paint (46-28).
• The game featured three ties and two lead changes.
• STAC's largest lead of the game came with just under 13 minutes to play in the contest, when Spartans led by 21 points, 63-42, on a Tyshon Judge layup.
• St. Thomas Aquinas held a 39-29 advantage going into the halftime locker room.
• Deshawne Crim led all scorers with 12 first half points for the Spartans, while shooting 80.0 percent (4-of-5) from the floor and 75.0 percent (3-of-4) from beyond the arc.
• STAC's best shooting half came in the opening stanza, with the maroon and gold hitting 17 of its 35 total shots for a 48.6 field goal percentage.
• The Spartans went 22-10 during 2024; January (5-2), February (6-2), March (3-1), November (5-3) and December (3-2).

JEFFERSON NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Ten Rams logged double-digit minutes in the contest. 
• Farouk Kaba led Jefferson with a 16-point effort.
• Ashton Miller led Jefferson with four assists on the afternoon.
• Kaba went 6-for-11 from the floor and 4-of-4 from the charity stripe.
• Farouk Kaba also grabbed a team-high six boards for the Rams.
• Jefferson picked up 11 steals, with the Spartans turning the ball over on 13 separate occasions.
• The Rams earned one advantage in the team statistical category over St. Thomas Aquinas: Bench Points (39-24).
• Georgian Court's largest lead of the contest (three points) came in the early minutes of Saturday's contest, when the Rams took a 7-4 advantage on a Justin Hawkins three-point jumper.
• Farouk Kaba led all Rams scorers with eight first half points, while shooting 80.0 percent (4-for-5) from the field.

UP NEXT:

STAC will take an extended break for the winter holidays, before returning to action on Thursday, January 2, 2025 against Bloomfield College of Montclair State University. The non-conference tilt between the Spartans and Bears gets underway at 7:00 p.m. inside of Aquinas Hall in Sparkill, New York.