The seventh-seeded Aquinas men's basketball team dropped a high-scoring WHAC Tournament opening game in Fort Wayne, Ind. on Thursday night (Feb. 25), as AQ was topped by Indiana Tech in a 90-75 final. Aquinas outscored the Warriors over the final 20 minutes, but Indiana Tech got off to a fast start and led by 17 points at halftime, which was enough to eventually seal the quarterfinal win. 
 
Second-seeded Indiana Tech was able to play a full season despite the COVID difficulties and moves onto the semifinals with a 19-8 overall record. AQ's condensed season ends with a 4-11 mark. When the teams met on Jan. 30 in the Sturrus Center – and Indiana Tech pulled out a 79-67 win after the game was tied at the half – it was the Warriors' 18th game of the season and only the third for Aquinas.
 
On Thursday, AQ outscored the Warriors in the second half (44-42), but Indiana Tech jumped out to an early 18-4 lead and went to the locker room at intermission with a 48-31 advantage. The Saints were able to pull within 10 points at 59-49 with 11:49 remaining after five straight points from Menalito McGee, but AQ could not get back within single-digits the remainder of the game. 
 
For the game, Indiana Tech shot 58.2 percent from the field and shot 7-of-14 from three-point range. The Warriors went 19-of-24 at the charity stripe. AQ also was productive at the line, making 12-of-15 attempts. The Saints shot 45.3 percent from the field and were 5-of-14 from beyond the arc. 
 
Aquinas held a slight 31-30 rebounding advantage and a 42-40 edge in the paint. The Saints also led in bench points (39-16), fast break points (16-11), and second chance points (11-8). AQ committed 13 turnovers, while the Warriors turned it over 11 times. 
 
Four Saints reached double-digits, led by a team-high 16 points from Gabe Overway on 8-of-13 shooting. Deric Murray added 13 points, four assists, and four steals, while making 5-of-7 shots. 
 
Both McGee and Jesse Hillis scored 10 points, while McGee grabbed four boards and hit a pair of three-pointers. Justin Lary led AQ with seven rebounds and scored six points, while Sammie Ryans grabbed five boards.