Grand Rapids, Mich. – The Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) is known for its fierce competition, and this season is no exception. With teams in the 2nd-5th spots separated by just two games and a similarly tight race between 6th-10th place, every contest carries significant weight. As the WHAC tournament looms, Coach Ryan Bertoia and his squad remain focused on the task at hand—securing crucial wins. On this night, the Saints showcased their resilience, erasing a double-digit deficit to defeat Concordia 73-66.

Aquinas 73, Concordia 66

The Saints struggled to find their rhythm early, shooting just 32.9% in the first half. Concordia capitalized, knocking down 45% of their shots, including 7-of-14 from beyond the arc, to take a 38-30 lead into halftime.

The situation grew more challenging as Aquinas fell behind by 15 points with 16:31 remaining after a deep three-pointer from Concordia's Mason Canfield. However, the Saints methodically chipped away at the deficit. With just over ten minutes left, AQ still trailed by nine before a key momentum shift. Jack Futa's rebound set up back-to-back three-pointers—one from Jadakiss Lewis, who led the Saints with 20 points, and another from Kaleb Mitchelson, who finished with seven. The quick six-point swing brought AQ within striking distance.

At the 9:02 mark, Jacob Howard buried another three-pointer, cutting the lead to just one. Moments later, Lewis struck again from deep, giving Aquinas a 58-56 lead—their first of the game. From that point on, the Saints never looked back.

Concordia kept the game close, pulling within a single possession late. But a clutch layup from Caden Pokorzynski, off a perfectly timed pass from Devon Boyd, extended the lead, and AQ held strong to secure the seven-point victory. It was a total team effort, with eight different Saints scoring and nine players grabbing at least one rebound.

Key Factors in the Victory

One of the biggest advantages for Aquinas was its bench production. The Saints' reserves outscored Concordia's 36-5, providing a much-needed spark. AQ also won the rebounding battle 40-33 and found its range from beyond the arc at the perfect time, hitting five of six three-pointers during a critical four-minute stretch in the second half. Overall, the Saints finished 7-of-18 from deep.

Coach's Thoughts

After the game, Coach Ryan Bertoia summed up the team's performance with a mix of humor and urgency, "We won. But seriously, we need to find a way to compete with an edge and urgency without falling behind by 15. We finally defended in the second half, holding them to 40% shooting—which is always our goal. When we defend, we're a pretty good team. When we don't, we struggle to match up offensively. We don't want to trade basket for basket."

By the Numbers:

• Jadakiss Lewis – 20 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
• Devon Boyd – 12 points, 2 rebounds, 2 blocks
• Caden Pokorzynski – 6 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals
• Terrance Jones – 6 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals
• Bench Points – Aquinas 36, Concordia 5

Up Next:

The Saints return home to host Lourdes for the inaugural Blackout Cancer Game in partnership with UM Health-West. The match-up is set for a 3:00 p.m. tip-off, or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Women's game. Sponsored by Tropical Smoothie, the event will feature free admission for all healthcare providers.