The Aquinas men's basketball team secures the revenge game win after taking a last second loss to UNOH earlier in the season on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 22) at Sturrus Center. The Saints used a 30-5 run from the end of the first half to the midway point of the second half to turn a 12-point deficit into a 13-point lead on their way to the 71-56 win.

AQ improves its record to 12-10 on the season and jump the Racers for the seventh place spot in the WHAC with a 6-7 conference record. UNOH now has a record of 8-12 on the year and 5-6 in the conference.

It was a defensive battle in the first have as UNOH controlled the pace over Aquinas. The Racers held the Saints to a 34.8% field goal percentage with only eight shots going through the net. UNOH fared a little better by shooting at a 46.2% clip. After AQ was able to grab a 15-6 lead at the 11:01 mark, UNOH outscored the Saints 26-5 over the next nine minutes to grab a 12-point lead. Two three-pointers by Menalito McGee in the last 1:30 of the half cut the deficit in half as the two teams headed out to the locker room. 

The Saints used those last six points of the half as a spark to head into the second half on a monstrous run. AQ returned the favor, going on a 30-5 run over the Racers and gained a 13-point lead by the 11:09 mark in the half. Gabe Overway and Justin Lary controlled the paint for the Saints as Overway scored 18 points and grabbed seven boards and Lary finished with 11 points and eight rebounds in the second half alone. Aquinas never relinquished the double-digit lead for the rest of the game and led by as much as 20 with just over two minutes left. The Saints finished the game with a 15-point victory.  

Aquinas shot the ball at a 47.3% clip after making 26-55 baskets, including 6-20 from downtown and 13-14 from the charity stripe. UNOH went 20-51 from the floor for a 39.2% field goal percentage, including 6-22 from three-point land and 10-22 from the free throw line.

After his big second half, Overway ended up being the leading point scorer for the Saints at 22 points to go along with his eight rebounds. Lary ended the day with a career-high 15 rebounds and his first collegiate double-double with 16 points. Jaylen Rutherford was the third Saint to score more than ten points, finishing with 12 points and three assists.

Jesse Hillis had a team-high six assists in the win. McGee (9), Sammie Ryans (7), Trevor Ballard (3), and Bronson Sysum (2) all also contributed on the scoreboard. 

Aquinas had a big rebounding margin at 42-28 over UNOH and also had more assists (19-11) and blocks (3-2), while the Racers led in steals 5-4. AQ forced 12 turnovers, while turning the ball over 13 times itself. UNOH also had more bench points (22-14) and second chance points (6-4), while AQ led in points off turnovers (13-10) and points in the paint (36-14).

AQ travels to Fort Wayne, Indiana to face Indiana Tech on Wednesday (Jan. 26), with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 PM.