Grand Rapids, Mich. – Winning twice to open the season in the Drury Inn Classic gave the Aquinas College men's basketball team plenty to feel good about. Letting opportunities slip away in a four-point loss to Bethel left a different feeling, especially with that first victory over the Pilots still just out of reach. For head coach Ryan Bertoia's Saints, Tuesday's challenge was to carry those lessons forward against Holy Cross—and when another comfortable lead became an uncomfortable second half, show they could finish the job.
Aquinas 89, Holy Cross 71
Aquinas established its offensive rhythm early, with David Day connecting from beyond the arc and Xavier Zubric finishing a dunk off a Day assist. After Holy Cross briefly moved ahead 8–7, Day buried another three-pointer to put AQ back in front, and contributions from Mershon Dickerson, Jack Futa and Lamont Green-Torbert helped create some breathing room. Jordan Bledsoe then knocked down a pair of three-pointers during a first-half surge that stretched the lead to double figures. Another Day triple and a Bledsoe jumper pushed the advantage to 36–20 with 7:05 remaining before halftime.
Holy Cross trimmed that margin to nine, but Aquinas answered with a Dickerson basket and a three-point play from Green-Torbert. Green-Torbert scored nine first-half points and made all five of his free throws, while Bledsoe also supplied nine points before the break. AQ shot 51.6 percent from the floor, connected on five three-pointers and controlled the boards 25–15 to carry a 44–30 lead into halftime.
Holy Cross came out of halftime with the urgency Aquinas had shown early, steadily cutting into the Saints' lead. Futa provided timely resistance with two free throws, a three-pointer and a layup, but the visitors continued closing the gap. A Holy Cross three-pointer and ensuing free throw completed a four-point play with 11:39 remaining, leaving Aquinas clinging to a 58–57 advantage.
Caden Pokorzynski delivered the first answer, grabbing an offensive rebound and converting a putback through contact before making the free throw to restore a four-point lead. Zubric followed with a block, Green-Torbert finished inside, and a Joe Russau steal helped set up two Jordan McCoy free throws as AQ pieced together a 7–0 response. After Holy Cross pulled within five, Dickerson took over with three consecutive Aquinas baskets, completing the last with a free throw to make it 72–61 with 8:40 remaining. Bledsoe added a layup before Pokorzynski scored again, McCoy buried a three-pointer and Futa finished inside to extend the margin to 82–63 with 5:12 left.
Dickerson later found Green-Torbert for a dunk, and Green-Torbert's persistence on the offensive glass produced another basket that pushed the lead to 20 with 2:37 remaining. Samuel Medendorp and Johnny Edwards also contributed at the free-throw line as Aquinas finished with five players in double figures and 38 points from its bench. After watching one opportunity get away against Bethel, the Saints made sure this one ended differently, answering the visitors' strongest push with their most decisive stretch of the night.
Aquinas improves to 3–1, while Holy Cross falls to 3–3. The non-conference schedule is winding down, with Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) play just around the corner.
Saints Snapshots
- A response worth building on. After its 14-point halftime lead dwindled to one, Aquinas outscored Holy Cross 31–14 the rest of the way, turning a tense second half into an 18-point victory.
- Production beyond the starting five. Futa matched Dickerson for the team lead with 16 points, shooting 6-for-8 from the floor, while Green-Torbert supplied 15 points and seven rebounds. Their combined 31 points powered AQ's 38–12 advantage in bench scoring.
- Zubric protected the paint. Zubric recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds while blocking four shots. Pokorzynski added eight points and nine boards as the Saints won the rebounding battle 48–43 and scored 48 points in the paint.
- Sharing it and taking care of it. Day distributed six assists, while Dickerson paired five assists with zero turnovers and two steals. Aquinas finished with 19 assists on 32 baskets and converted 17 Holy Cross turnovers into 19 points.
- Another opportunity at the stripe. Aquinas shot 49.2 percent from the field and held Holy Cross to 36.6 percent, but an 18-for-30 performance at the free-throw line left points available as the Saints prepare for tighter conference contests.
Coach's Comments
Bertoia's Saints received contributions throughout the lineup, but their response after Holy Cross nearly erased the halftime lead offered the clearest sign of progress.
"I was proud of the way our guys responded when Holy Cross made its run. We put ourselves in a good position in the first half, but we have to do a better job coming out of halftime and maintaining our focus. When it became a one-point game, our guys stayed together, made some important defensive plays and got back to sharing the basketball. We had different guys step up throughout the night, and that's what we need from this group. There is still plenty to clean up, including leaving points at the free-throw line, but finishing the way we did gives us something to build on."
Up Next
The Saints hit the road Saturday, November 14, to challenge the Eagles of Judson University in Elgin, Ill. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. After playing their first four games at home, AQ will face its first road test of the season, bringing a new challenge for Bertoia's group. With WHAC play approaching, the Saints will look to carry Tuesday's balanced scoring and strong finish into a more complete 40-minute effort away from Coach Bo Court.
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