Grand Rapids, Mich. - The Aquinas men's basketball team played a back-and-forth battle against visiting Spring Arbor in Saturday's (Nov. 4) season opener in the Sturrus Center. In a game that was tied with just 18 seconds to play, the Cougars prevailed in a wild finish to earn the tough 55-53 non-conference win.

It was the opening game of the 2023-24 campaign for the Saints (0-1), though Spring Arbor (3-1) has already faced off against AQ's WHAC counterparts Cornerstone and Indiana Tech, splitting those two contests. Saturday's game was extremely tight throughout; both teams' largest leads were only five points. There were 11 lead changes and 10 tie scores in the entertaining 40-minute contest.

Aquinas led 52-48 with 2:50 remaining after Jared Lary knocked down a pair of free throws for the Saints. Spring Arbor responded with a three-pointer on the other end and took a 53-52 advantage with 42 seconds to play. On AQ's next possession, Donovan Brown-Boyd split a pair of free throws to tie the game at 53-all with 18 seconds remaining.

Spring Arbor missed a shot with nine seconds to play and Aquinas corralled the rebound. However, SAU stole the outlet pass and Trey Cottingham hit a free throw line jumper for the Cougars with four seconds to play for the 55-53 advantage. On the other end of the floor, Brown-Boyd had a tough, contested look at what would've been the game-winning three-pointer, but the desperation attempt was off target, sealing the win for the visitors.

Brown-Boyd and Lary scored 13 points apiece to lead Aquinas. Brown-Boyd hit 5-of-8 free throws and a pair of three-pointers, to go with six rebounds, three steals, and a block. Lary went 5-for-5 at the line and also hit two triples. He added three boards in his AQ debut.

DeAndre Francis recorded nine points, five rebounds, and two blocks in his first game as a Saint. Devon Boyd tallied eight points and three assists. Newcomer Samuel Medendorp chipped in five rebounds (four offensive), four points, and a block in 17 active minutes off the bench. Andrew Larson grabbed five boards and scored four points.

AQ's largest lead of the first half was 13-8 after a Lary three-pointer at the 13:23 mark. The teams would exchange leads five times in the first 20 minutes, with Spring Arbor taking the slim 28-25 lead to the intermission.

Boyd's three-pointer early in the second half tied the game and Francis converted an old-fashioned three-point play to give the Saints a 31-29 edge. Spring Arbor eventually went in front by five points on a pair of occasions, including 42-37 just under the 11-minute mark. 

The largest lead in the final 10 minutes was four points by AQ, when Francis scored on a layup and made the score 50-46 with 4:48 to go. SAU scored seven of the game's final eight points to nab the victory.

Aquinas shot 32.7 percent from the field, but outrebounded the Cougars 41-31, including an 11-3 advantage on the offensive glass. The Saints made as many free throws (14-of-20) as Spring Arbor attempted (9-of-14). SAU shot 44 percent from the floor and went just 2-of-13 from three-point range.

AQ held an 11-2 edge in second chance points and a 19-6 cushion in bench points. 

The Saints continue their three-game homestand next Saturday (Nov. 11) against Governors State at 1:00 p.m.