Box Score Livonia, Mich. – With the WHAC tournament less than two weeks away, the Aquinas men's basketball team finds itself at a crossroads. While the Saints have shown flashes of strong play, putting together a complete game remains a challenge. That struggle was evident Wednesday night as AQ fell to Madonna 88-74, despite a late push.
Madonna 88, Aquinas 74
The Saints have the talent to compete with any WHAC opponent but continue to battle inconsistency on both ends of the court. Head Coach Ryan Bertoia has emphasized that if the team can translate its practice intensity into game situations, they can compete with the best.
Aquinas utilized its depth, with 12 of the 15 players who saw action making their way onto the scoresheet. Eight different Saints scored at least four points, led by Devon Boyd's team-high 13 points. Terrance Jones and Jack Futa also contributed double-digit scoring efforts.
The Saints' bench was a bright spot, outscoring Madonna's reserves 37-14. However, turnovers proved costly, as the Crusaders capitalized with a 36-16 edge in points off turnovers.
Despite the loss, Aquinas won the rebounding battle 36-32, with Caden Pokorzynski pulling down a game-high nine boards.
Turning Points
Aquinas trailed 52-43 at halftime but remained within striking distance. A Jadakiss Lewis layup with 2:19 left in the first half cut the deficit to just five, but Madonna responded with a 6-0 run to close out the half.
The start of the second half proved to be AQ's downfall. The Saints came out ice cold, scoring just three points in the first seven minutes, allowing Madonna to extend its lead to 25 (71-46). The Crusaders' advantage swelled to as much as 28 points before AQ mounted a late push, outscoring Madonna 13-1 down the stretch. Unfortunately, the rally came too late, and Madonna held on for the victory, remaining in a virtual tie for second place in the WHAC with Cornerstone.
Standings Update
The loss drops Aquinas to 12-13 overall and 8-10 in WHAC play, leaving their conference tournament seeding uncertain.
Coach's Take
Head Coach Ryan Bertoia emphasized the need for balance and consistency:
"We have to put two halves together. We scored the ball in the first half but didn't defend like we could. Then, in the second half, we defended better but stopped moving the ball like we did earlier. The guys are still competing and battling."
By the Numbers
Next Up
Aquinas returns home to the Sturrus Sports & Fitness Center on Saturday for Senior Day against WHAC rival Defiance. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m., or 30-minutes following the conclusion of the women's game.
