Lansing, Mich. — A college basketball season will test even the toughest teams, wearing on players physically, mentally, and emotionally. The highs and lows of a group still trying to find its rhythm can be taxing, and maintaining consistency becomes a true coaching challenge. That responsibility now rests with Coach Ryan Bertoia and his staff as Aquinas opened its 2025–26 WHAC campaign on the road in Lansing against Cleary.

Cleary 68, Aquinas 52

Aquinas came out strong, jumping to an early 8–0 lead behind buckets from Devon Boyd and a smooth three from Caden Pokorzynski. Boyd continued to pace the Saints' offense, finishing with a game-high 20 points, while Pokorzynski posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Jack Futa provided a lift off the bench with six points and seven boards, and Malachi DenBraber added six points from the free-throw line.

Despite the strong opening stretch, the Saints struggled to maintain their rhythm as the game wore on, shooting just 14-of-52 from the field. Cameron Moore buried a key second-half three that briefly energized the Saints, and Jordan Bledsoe added five points including a transition triple.

Trey Chmielewski worked hard inside for nine rebounds, while David Day handed out three assists as AQ continued to search for offensive consistency. Cleary's second-chance points and scoring depth ultimately pushed the Cougars ahead for good after halftime.

Inside the Numbers
     • Boyd: 20 points, 11-of-12 FT
     • Pokorzynski: 10 points, 10 rebounds
     • Futa & Denbraber: combined 12 bench points
     • Bench Production: 19 points
     • AQ held Cleary to 34.8% shooting

Coach's Comments
Following the game, Head Coach Ryan Bertoia expressed mixed feelings about the conference opener:
"Even with a tough finish, I saw stretches where we played the type of basketball this group is capable of," Bertoia said. "We need to clean up the turnovers, stay locked in defensively, and trust our identity for all 40 minutes. If we do that, we'll give ourselves a chance every night in the WHAC."

Up Next
The Saints wrap up their three-game road swing on Saturday with a trip to Fort Wayne, Indiana, to take on the Indiana Tech Warriors. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 PM. For live stats, streaming information, and complete postgame coverage, visit AQSaints.com.