Grand Rapids, Mich. — It has been a wild and often frustrating season to this point for the Aquinas Saints, one that at times has felt like a modern-day version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. One night, the Saints look like a legitimate WHAC contender; the next, they struggle to find a rhythm offensively. That inconsistency surfaced again Wednesday night at the Sturrus Sports & Fitness Center, as Aquinas battled but ultimately could not overcome a physical and efficient Rochester Christian squad.
Rochester Christian 71, Aquinas 46
The Saints hung tough early, trading baskets through the opening stretch of the first half behind strong interior play from Caden Pokorzynski and early contributions from Devon Boyd and Jordan Bledsoe. Aquinas briefly grabbed momentum midway through the half, using defensive pressure and transition opportunities to stay within striking distance. However, Rochester Christian closed the opening period on a strong run, taking a 33–26 lead into the locker room.
Offensively, Aquinas struggled to find consistency as the game wore on, shooting 28.8 percent from the field and just 18.8 percent from beyond the arc. Pokorzynski led the Saints with 14 points and seven rebounds, battling inside against a physical Warriors frontcourt. David Day provided a spark off the bench, finishing with 10 points on efficient shooting, including a pair of three-pointers. Boyd added six points and six rebounds, while Bledsoe chipped in eight points and helped facilitate the offense.
Despite strong individual efforts, Rochester Christian controlled the paint throughout the night, scoring consistently on the interior and winning the rebounding battle. The Warriors pulled away in the second half, extending their lead with efficient shooting and steady defensive pressure.
Aquinas continued to compete until the final horn, getting minutes from Caedmon Huff, Cameron Moore, Nick Henry, Kaleb Mitchelson, and Jacob Howard as the Saints searched for a spark. Ultimately, the inability to convert shots at the rim, from deep, and at the free-throw line proved too much to overcome, as Rochester Christian closed out the 71–46 victory.
WHAC Men's Basketball Conference Standings Update
Following Wednesday night's results, Aquinas now sits at 6–9 in WHAC play and 8–12 overall, while Rochester Christian improves to 9–6 in the conference and 14–7 overall, remaining firmly in the upper tier of the league. At the top of the WHAC standings, Indiana Tech and Madonna remain tied for first place at 12–3, followed closely by Lourdes at 11–4, with Rochester Christian holding fourth place. The loss drops Aquinas into a three-way tie for seventh place, with only the top eight teams qualifying for the WHAC Tournament, leaving little margin for error down the stretch.
By the Numbers
• 28.8% shooting from the field
• 18.8% from three-point range
• 52 points allowed in the paint
• 33 total rebounds
• 14 points from Caden Pokorzynski, along with 7 rebounds and 4 steals
Up Next
Aquinas will look to rebound on Saturday when the Saints hit the road to take on Northwestern Ohio in a pivotal matchup featuring two of the three teams tied for seventh place in the WHAC. The contest will serve as game two of the Saints' basketball doubleheader, tipping approximately 20 minutes after the women's game, around 3:00 p.m.
For information, stats, and a full recap of the action, please be sure to visit AQSaints.com.
