The Aquinas men's basketball team played yet another tight contest on Wednesday night (Nov. 16) inside the Sturrus Center, dropping a close battle to visiting Rochester by a 58-52 score. After coming back from a 14-point first half deficit, the Saints cut the Warrior lead to just two points in the closing minute before Rochester free throws iced the win for the visitors.
 
Wednesday's loss was AQ's first in conference play this season and first at home, as well. The Saints are now 4-3 on the season and 2-1 in league action. Rochester improves to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in WHAC play. Aquinas' three losses this season have come by just five points, two points, and six points, with the first two defeats coming in overtime.
 
Both teams excelled on the defensive end of the floor, limiting good opportunities for their counterpart offensively. AQ shot 36.9 percent from the field and held Rochester to 33.3 percent shooting; the Warriors doubled Aquinas in made three-pointers, 6-3. The major stat that stood out was Rochester's 12-1 edge in made free throws. The Warriors attempted 14 freebies compared to just a pair for the Saints.
 
Donovan Brown-Boyd neared a double-double by shooting 6-of-10 from the floor and posting team-highs of 13 points and nine rebounds. Gabe Overway joined him in double-digits, scoring 11 points on 5-for-10 shooting. Overway also rejected three shots.
 
Payton Harley tallied nine points and four boards, while Menalito McGee added eight points, four rebounds, and two assists. Andrew Larson provided good energy off the bench and finished with seven rebounds, four points, three steals, and three blocks.
 
Rochester led wire-to-wire and built an early 18-8 lead, which extended to 31-17 with 3:38 to play in the opening half. Buckets by Brown-Boyd, Harley, and Larson closed the gap to 31-23 at the intermission. 
 
It was a 41-29 Warrior lead when AQ ran off a 6-0 spurt on baskets from Overway, Larson, and McGee midway through the second frame. Every time Aquinas struck, Rochester counterpunched – this time extending back out to another dozen point cushion at 51-39 with under six minutes to play. 
 
The AQ defense kept the Saints close. Harley buried a three-pointer and Overway converted an old-fashioned three-point play to make it a 54-52 score with 24 seconds left. Naturally the Saints were forced to foul and Rochester made its final four free throws to seal the win.
 
Aquinas led in points in the paint (36-28), bench points (16-12), and points off turnovers (18-13). Each team committed 14 miscues and Rochester held the slim 42-41 rebounding edge.
 
The Saints will head across town to take on Davenport in an exhibition game on Saturday night (Nov. 19) at 7:00 p.m. against the NCAA Division II Panthers.