Grand Rapids, Mich. - The Aquinas men's basketball team had a strong start against visiting Indiana Tech on Saturday (Dec. 2) in the Sturrus Center, but the visiting Warriors used a large advantage at the free throw line and pulled away with a 66-54 victory. It was a three-point IT lead at halftime, but the Warriors outscored AQ by a 35-26 margin in the second half to prevail with the conference win.

Saturday's result dips Aquinas to 4-3 overall and evens its conference record at 2-2. Indiana Tech improves to 4-4 on the year and 3-1 in league play.

It was a defensive battle, as each team ended up shooting 34 percent from the field in the game and they combined for just five made three-pointers (three for IT, two for Aquinas). The turning point was the charity stripe, as Indiana Tech went 23-for-28 and AQ was just 6-for-9. The 17-point advantage was a major factor in the win for the visitors.

Aquinas led in points in the paint (36-20) and scored all 10 of the game's fast break points. Indiana Tech did win the rebounding battle 47-38 and held a 26-18 bench point scoring advantage.

The Saints jumped out to a good start early on, as buckets from Donovan Brown-Boyd and DeAndre Francis were followed by a three-pointer from Devon Boyd for the early 13-5 lead at the 13:56 mark. Indiana Tech chipped away and took a 16-15 advantage with 8:10 remaining. That was quickly erased by jumpers from Francis and Brown-Boyd and a three-pointer from Menalito McGee for the 7-0 run and a 22-16 edge.

A layup from McGee with 2:53 to play kept AQ in front 28-23, but it would be the Saints' final points of the half. Indiana Tech scored the final eight points including a frantic jumper that swished through the net as the halftime buzzer sounded. IT took the 31-28 advantage to the locker room.

Samuel Medendorp tipped in a missed shot to bring Aquinas within three points (33-30) less than two minutes into the second half. That is as close as the Saints could get over the final 20 minutes, as Indiana Tech started to pull away. The Warriors opened a 45-34 lead at the 12:44 mark and eventually built a 19-point cushion with 5:19 to play.

Despite the deficit, the Saints would not go away easily. From that 60-41 deficit, Aquinas scored 11 straight points, including six consecutive points from Andrew Larson. His dunk at the 1:18 mark made it a 60-52 game and prompted an Indiana Tech timeout. The Warriors hit four free throws in the final 67 seconds and prevailed with the 12-point win. IT made 14-of-18 freebies in the decisive second half.

Larson stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, seven rebounds, four blocks, two steals, and two assists. Francis also reached double-digits with 12 points, five boards (four offensive), and two blocked shots. 

Brown-Boyd provided eight points and six rebounds before fouling out late in the contest. McGee made 3-of-6 shots and added seven points off the bench. Medendorp supplied six points and five rebounds in 15 minutes, while Jared Lary added five points, five rebounds, and two assists. Boyd tied Larson with a team-high seven rebounds and handed out three assists. 

The Saints continue the current four-game homestand on Wednesday (Dec. 6), but switch to a non-conference game. It will be a 7:00 p.m. start inside Sturrus against Grace Christian.