The Aquinas men's basketball team extended its winning streak to three straight games and took down previously undefeated Lourdes on Saturday (Feb. 13) inside the Sturrus Center by a 75-59 final. AQ pulled away by outscoring the Gray Wolves 45-30 in the second half to give Lourdes its first WHAC loss of the season.
After a slow start to the year, the Saints have picked things up this week, defeating UNOH by 20 on Sunday, Siena Heights by 10 on Wednesday, and Lourdes by 16 on Saturday. AQ improves to 3-6 on the season and 3-5 in WHAC play, while Lourdes drops to 6-3 overall and 4-1 in league action.
The Saints shot 45.8 percent from the field and made 14-of-16 free throws, while knocking down seven three-pointers. AQ shot an even 50 percent in the second half and made 11-of-12 freebies. For the game, Lourdes shot just 36.1 percent and 5-of-22 from three-point range. The Saints committed just nine turnovers in the win and held a 21-13 advantage in bench points.
Sammie Ryans put together his best game as a Saints, notching a career-high 27 points on 11-for-19 shooting. He made 4-of-8 triple tries and added nine rebounds in 35 minutes played. Jesse Hillis went scoreless in the opening half, but finished with 21 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds. He shot 7-of-14 from the floor and made all six free throws in the win.
Deric Murray came off the bench to tally nine points and two assists, while Menalito McGee recorded eight points, five boards, three steals, and two assists. Gabe Overway pulled down seven boards and scored six points, while Tevin Ali recorded four points, two boards, and two blocked shots.
The game was tied at 19-all midway through the first half when Ryans scored on a layup and hit a three-pointer for a 24-19 Aquinas lead. He hit another trifecta – his third of the first half – with 1:25 remaining to put AQ back out in front, 30-28. The Saints would hold a slight 30-29 lead at halftime. Ryans had 19 first-half points, as one of only four AQ players to score in the first 20 minutes.
A 10-0 Saints run early in the second half gave Aquinas a 42-31 cushion, with Ryans and Hillis each scoring five points during that surge. It was still 51-47 in the Saints' favor with 6:18 remaining. Hillis scored on a layup and McGee drilled a three-pointer to start another AQ run. Hillis followed with a jumper a minute later and McGee hit another triple to make it 61-47 with under four minutes left.
Lourdes could not get closer than 13 points the rest of the game, as Aquinas went 8-for-8 at the line in the final 2:21 of the contest.
AQ heads to Ann Arbor on Sunday (Feb. 14) for a 3:00 p.m. showdown with the Concordia Cardinals.
