Spring Arbor, Mich. — Two points in the paint by senior forward Gabe Overway gave the Aquinas men's basketball team its first lead of the game with 2:45 to play. Despite the feisty Saints clawing all the way back, Spring Arbor went on a decisive 8-2 run late to secure a 68-63 win Friday afternoon inside the McDonald Athletic Center.

Both teams are now 6-8 overall after the non-conference result. 

The Cougars scored the first seven points and built up a nine point advantage before a pair of free throws up Tommy Gregwer got the Saints back within two points at 25-23 with under five minutes remaining in the first half.

But, Spring Arbor pulled away again with a 14-5 run to hold an 11-point advantage, 39-28, going into halftime. The Cougars shot 50% from the field in the first half (15-for-30), only to plummet to 38.5% in the second half.

Aquinas stormed back by shooting 57.7% in the final 20 minutes, and finished with a modest 53.1% shooting percentage for the game. It's the third-best shooting game AQ has had this season, but that hasn't exactly produced wins as the Saints are now 3-3 overall when shooting 50% or better in a game this season.

Halfway through the second half, Spring Arbor had expanded its lead out to its biggest margin of 15 points at 54-39 following a 3-pointer by Eli White. Down 10 points with six minutes remaining, Aquinas made its move with an 11-0 run in roughly three minutes.

The Saints' first and only lead lasted less than 30 seconds before Kevyn Robertson made a bucket and White drained another triple a minute later to put the Cougars back up 65-61.

A pair of free throws made by Payton Harley put AQ within striking distance at 66-63 in the final seconds. Following a missed Cougars' free throw, the Saints had a chance to send the game into overtime but Gregwer couldn't connect on a game-tying triple.

Travis Grayson sunk two free throws to push the final score out to 68-63 in favor of the Cougars. 

Austin Braun and Gabe Newhof both scored a game-high 17 points for Spring Arbor. Newhof also pulled down 10 rebounds to finish with a double-double.

Overway scored a team-high 16 points with four rebounds and four assists. Harley chipped in with 10 points and five rebounds. Gregwer added seven points and dished out a team-high five assists.

Aquinas challenges Division II regional foe Grand Valley State tomorrow on New Year's Eve (Dec. 31) in an exhibition game. Tipoff from the Fieldhouse Arena in Allendale, Mich., is set for 3 p.m.