Grand Rapids, Mich. – The Aquinas men's basketball team closed out the regular season on Wednesday night with a tough 89-67 loss to Cornerstone. Despite strong performances from Caden Pokorzynski and Jadakiss Lewis, the Saints couldn't keep pace with the Golden Eagles down the stretch. While the loss stings, Aquinas still has plenty to play for as they prepare for next week's WHAC Tournament.

Cornerstone 89, Aquinas 67

Aquinas (13-14, 9-11 WHAC) started hot, jumping out to an 8-2 lead behind back-to-back three-pointers from Lewis. The Saints remained competitive throughout the first half, trailing just 43-35 at the break. Pokorzynski was dominant early, going a perfect 5-for-5 from the field, including a three-pointer, to notch 13 first-half points.

However, Cornerstone (19-8, 15-4 WHAC) took over in the second half, outscoring Aquinas 46-32. The Golden Eagles caught fire, shooting a blistering 59.4% from the field after halftime, while the Saints struggled to find their rhythm, hitting just 27.6% in the final 20 minutes.

Cornerstone's Depth Proves Too Much

Aquinas fought hard, but the Golden Eagles' depth and efficiency inside proved to be the difference. Cornerstone dominated in the paint, scoring 42 points down low and using a massive 46-15 bench scoring advantage to pull away. Mason Brooks led the way with 20 points, while Blake Stewart added 18 off the bench for the Golden Eagles.

Coach's Take

Head Coach Ryan Bertoia acknowledged the team's effort but stressed the need for improvement heading into the postseason, "We played well in stretches, but our defense let us down in the second half. Credit to Cornerstone—they executed and took advantage of our mistakes. We'll regroup and focus on a strong WHAC tournament run."

By the Numbers

• Caden Pokorzynski: 20 points, 11 rebounds (double-double), 7-for-12 FG, 2-for-2 3PT
• Jadakiss Lewis: 16 points, 4 assists, 3-for-3 from beyond the arc
• Terrance Jones: 8 points, 3 rebounds
• Bench Points: Aquinas 15, Cornerstone 46

Next Up

Aquinas will take advantage of its bye on Saturday to regroup before heading into the WHAC Tournament. The Saints will play in the first round on Tuesday, but their opponent and location remain to be determined. Fans can check aqsaints.com on Sunday for official tournament seeding and match-up details.