Grand Rapids, Mich. — Aquinas showcased a balanced scoring effort and strong team defense in an impressive 65-50 win over Siena Heights on Teacher Appreciation Night. Ten different Saints contributed points, helping AQ improve to 11-10 overall and 7-7 in WHAC play.

Aquinas 65, Siena Heights 50

Aquinas set the tone early, as Ryan Weir opened the scoring with a layup just six seconds into the game. A Devon Boyd three-pointer later gave AQ an 11-9 lead, and in an interesting numerical twist, the game was tied 11-11 at exactly 12:12 in the first half.

Despite a challenging week in which illness swept through the locker room—impacting several players and even head coach Ryan Bertoia—the Saints remained resilient. Bertoia praised his team's ability to adapt, "We keep talking about stepping up and the next guy up. With five or six guys out, including myself, it's nice to see how we have responded to adversity all year long."

The Saints' depth proved crucial, with six players scoring six or more points. Boyd led the way with 18, while Terrance Jones (13 points) and Kaleb Mitchelson (double digits) provided key contributions. AQ shot 43% from the field, including 4-of-18 from three-point range.

Defensively, Aquinas dominated the glass, out rebounding Siena Heights 43-32, and recorded a season-high six blocked shots.

Coach Bertoia reflected on his team's mindset and the road ahead, "These guys understand how important we or the team is. It has been something we've focused on all year—WE and US instead of YOU, I, or ME. We'll take tomorrow off, rest, and get ready for the long four-hour road trip (to play UNOH)."

By the Numbers:

• Devon Boyd: 18 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
• Terrance Jones: 13 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal
• Caden Pokorzynski: 5 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks
• Jack Futa: 2 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks
• Team Effort: 10 players scored, with 29 points coming from the bench

Up Next:

Aquinas travels to the University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH) to face the Racers. Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m. or 30 minutes after the women's game.

Let us leave you with one final thought on Teacher Appreciation Night—if you enjoyed this game or article, thank a teacher. They made it possible!