Grand Rapids, Mich. – The Aquinas College men's basketball team carried the momentum from its previous day's victory into day two of the Drury Inn Classic, earning an exciting 91-87 win over IU South Bend. The Saints showcased their fast-paced offense, strong perimeter shooting, and late-game composure to secure the victory.
Aquinas - 91, IUSB - 87
Aquinas came out with energy, setting the tone early as Xavier Zubric threw down a dunk off an assist from Caden Pokorzynski to give the Saints a 2-0 lead. The Titans responded with a basket of their own, but Pokorzynski answered with a layup and two made free throws to put AQ ahead 6-2.
IU South Bend found its rhythm and went on a 10-point run to take a 12-6 advantage. Jordan Bledsoe halted the run with a three-pointer, followed by another dunk from Zubric to bring the Saints within one at 12-11.
Aquinas began to find its groove from beyond the arc, as Jack Futa, David Day, and Lamont Green-Torbert each connected from three-point range to help the Saints regain control. The offense continued to build momentum, with Jordan McCoy adding a basket to extend the lead to 29-18.
Mershon Dickerson and Joe Russau contributed baskets of their own as Aquinas pushed its advantage to 36-24. The Titans responded with another offensive surge, cutting the deficit to seven at 39-32.
Pokorzynski continued to lead the offensive effort, adding consecutive points and connecting with Day for an assist. IU South Bend continued to battle, trimming the Saints' lead to 48-45. Day converted two free throws before Pokorzynski knocked down a three-pointer to give AQ some breathing room at 53-47. A late Titans basket sent the teams into halftime with Aquinas holding a narrow 53-50 advantage.
IU South Bend came out of the break with renewed energy, quickly taking its first lead of the half at 59-56. Both teams tightened up defensively, forcing each other to work for every possession.
The Titans continued to find success offensively, knocking down a three-pointer to extend their advantage to 66-61. Day and Futa combined for five points to keep the Saints within striking distance, but Aquinas still trailed 68-66.
The two teams continued trading baskets, with neither able to create much separation. With just under seven minutes remaining, McCoy connected on a clutch three-pointer to put the Saints back in front, 73-72.
Zubric followed with a layup and converted the ensuing free throw to complete the three-point play, giving Aquinas a 78-76 advantage. As the clock continued to wind down, both teams turned to the free-throw line in an effort to close out the contest.
The Saints remained composed under pressure, converting their opportunities at the line and maintaining control in the closing moments. Aquinas held on to secure the hard-fought 91-87 victory.
Coaches' Comments
"I was really proud of the way our guys competed. We came out with great energy and did a good job pushing the pace offensively, but IU South Bend made some runs and challenged us throughout the game. Our guys stayed composed, trusted each other, and made some big plays when it mattered most. Being able to execute down the stretch and finish with a win like this is a great reflection of our team's toughness and growth."
Saints Snapshots
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Scoring Leader: Caden Pokorzynski led all Saints with 18 points.
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Defensive Effort: Jack Futa recorded two blocks, while Xavier Zubric added one.
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On the Boards: Zubric led Aquinas with six rebounds. Pokorzynski and Mershon Dickerson each grabbed five.
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Sharing the Ball: David Day, Pokorzynski, and Dickerson each dished out four assists.
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Perfect at the Line: Day was perfect from the free-throw line, converting all four attempts (4-for-4).
Up Next
The Saints will return home on Tuesday, November 3, as they welcome the Bethel University Pilots to Grand Rapids for their next matchup. Looking to carry the momentum from their Drury Inn Classic performance into their next contest, Aquinas will look to defend its home court and continue building on its recent success. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Sturrus Sports & Fitness Center.
