The Aquinas men's basketball team went on the road to compete in the Goshen Tournament and started off with a win over the host Goshen on Friday night (Oct. 29) in Goshen, Indiana. Great shooting was the key to the Saints victory after shooting nearly 50% from the floor, nearly 40% from the three-point line, and a perfect 100% from the free throw line in the 85-70 win over the Maple Leafs in Ruth Gunden Gymnasium.
Aquinas has now started the season 2-0, with both wins being against Crossroad League teams, and Goshen is now 1-1 after the loss.
Both teams traded baskets for the first seven minutes of the first half and Goshen held a three point led with 13:18 remaining. That was the last lead that GC held as the Saints went on a 19-2 run in a four and a half minute span. AQ kept the foot on the gas and held a 15-point lead heading into halftime.
Aquinas pushed its lead up to 20 points a couple times in the second half, but both teams ended up scoring 32 by the final whistle. There were nine different Saints that contributed to the 15-point win.
Aquinas had a 49.1% shooting percentage after making 27-55 baskets, including 9-23 (39.1%) from three-point range and a perfect 22-22 at the free throw line. The Saints held the Maple Leafs to a 35% field goal percentage as GC was only 5-20 from behind the arc and went 23-28 from the free throw stripe.
Sammie Ryans led the Saints in the points category for the second consecutive game by contributing 19 points on 7-16 from the field and five free throws, while dishing out a team-high five assists. Jaylen Rutherford had an efficient shooting night by making six of eight baskets, including one trifecta and three free throws. Rutherford stuffed the stat sheet by also grabbing seven rebounds and collecting five steals.
Newcomer Tommy Gregwer had a coming out party by scoring 16 points in 23 minutes off the bench with all four field goals coming from downtown and adding another four points at the charity stripe. Jesse Hillis nearly turned in a double-double after contributing 10 points and securing a team-high eight rebounds, while collecting four assists.
Aquinas led Goshen in the rebounding (34-32), assists (14-8), and steals (9-4) categories, while both teams had 11 turnovers and one block a piece. The Saints also held advantages over the Maple Leafs in points of turnovers (13-8), points off the bench (33-16), points in the paint (32-24), and fast break points (10-4) as GC held a 13-4 lead in second chance points.
Aquinas will play in Goshen, Indiana again against #2 Saint Francis on Saturday (Oct. 30) at 3:00 PM, back in Ruth Gunden Gymnasium.
