Grand Rapids, Mich. — The first-ever Drury Inn Classic tipped off in style Friday night, and the hometown crowd got exactly what it wanted: the Aquinas men's basketball team's first victory of the season. Behind a balanced offensive attack and a dominant first half, the Saints cruised to a convincing 79–58 win over Wright State–Lake Campus to move to 1–1 on the young season.

Aquinas 79, Wright State–Lake Campus 58

From the opening tip, Aquinas controlled the tempo and never looked back. Devon Boyd led the charge with 18 points, including three triples and several key baskets that set the tone early. Caden Pokorzynski was unstoppable in the paint, tallying a double-double with 14 points and a team-high 16 rebounds, while Cameron Moore added 12 points—hitting four threes to stretch the floor. David Day orchestrated the offense masterfully, finishing with nine points, six assists, and five rebounds. The Saints built a commanding 44–23 halftime lead thanks to sharp 48% shooting from the field and a blistering 46% mark from deep.

The second half allowed the Saints to showcase their depth, as Jordan Bledsoe and Malachi DenBraber each contributed from long range, and Samuel Jacobs provided a spark off the bench with five points. Nick Henry and Caleb Schuur chipped in with energetic minutes and timely plays on both ends. Defensively, Aquinas forced 17 turnovers and held Wright State–Lake Campus to just 33% shooting, maintaining their 20-plus-point cushion throughout. The Saints' largest lead ballooned to 35 midway through the second half, a testament to their relentless effort and execution on both ends of the floor.

Inside the Numbers
     · Aquinas shot 47% from the field and 42% from three-point range.
     · The Saints outrebounded Wright State–Lake Campus 43–40, with a 15–11 edge in offensive boards.
     · AQ's bench contributed 26 points, showing balanced depth.
     · Caden Pokorzynski's 16 rebounds were a season high.

Coach's Comments
Head Coach Ryan Bertoia praised his team's growth after the win:
"We took a big step forward tonight. Our guys played with energy, shared the ball, and set the tone defensively. There's still plenty of work to do before WHAC play starts, but I'm proud of how connected we looked for just our second game. If we keep this level of focus and commitment, the results will take care of themselves."

Up Next
The Saints will return to the Sturrus on Saturday to conclude the inaugural Drury Inn Classic with a 4:00 p.m. match-up against Saint Xavier. That game—and the other two—will be streamed live on the AQ YouTube Network (part of a basketball triple header) with Joey Sutherlin on the call. Visit AQSaints.com for live stats, streaming links, and a full post game recap.