Southfield, Mich. – March Madness may be looming nationally, but for the AQ Saints, the pressure has already arrived. Sitting tied for eighth place in the WHAC — with only the top eight teams advancing to the conference tournament — every possession carries postseason weight. On the road against a Lawrence Tech team ahead of them in the standings, Aquinas needed urgency, toughness, and execution. What followed was a competitive battle that ultimately slipped away late.
Lawrence Tech 102, Aquinas 77
Aquinas opened the night with confidence, trading blows early and showing no hesitation in attacking the rim. Tjay Jones got the Saints on the board with a jumper, while Devon Boyd and Caden Pokorzynski quickly settled into an offensive rhythm. Pokorzynski was particularly sharp in the first half, knocking down three three-pointers and getting to the free-throw line as he paced AQ offensively.
The Saints matched Lawrence Tech shot-for-shot through much of the opening half. Boyd attacked the glass for second-chance opportunities, Jordan Bledsoe added transition energy, and Cam Moore stretched the defense with a perimeter triple. Aquinas briefly took the lead midway through the half, and the game remained tight as the teams traded leads. At halftime, the Saints trailed just 40–35, well within striking distance.
Early in the second half, Aquinas found its push. Jones converted at the rim, Boyd scored through contact, and Kaleb Mitchelson finished a key lay-up to give the Saints a 50–49 lead. The game was tied with just under 15 minutes to play before the Blue Devils pulled away from the Saints for the rest of the contest, using a barrage of three-pointers and quick defensive stops to permanently shift momentum.
Lawrence Tech caught fire from deep, connecting on 17 three-pointers overall, including several during a decisive mid-second-half run. Despite continued effort from Pokorzynski — who finished with 20 points — and Boyd, who added 16, Aquinas struggled to slow the Blue Devils' offensive surge. Jones contributed 10 points and battled inside, while Malachi Denbraber provided a spark off the bench with seven points. Jacob Howard added a late three-pointer, and the Saints continued to attack, but LTU's efficiency proved too much to overcome.
Aquinas shot a solid 46 percent from the field and 43 percent from three, but Lawrence Tech's 64 percent shooting in the second half — including 60 percent from beyond the arc — created separation the Saints could not erase. Though the final margin widened, the competitive nature of the game for much of the night underscored just how thin the margin for error has become.
Inside the Numbers
• Caden Pokorzynski led Aquinas with 20 points, including three three-pointers.
• Devon Boyd added 16 points and four rebounds while battling inside.
• The Saints shot 46 percent from the field and 43 percent from three.
• Lawrence Tech connected on 17 three-pointers and shot a blazing 64 percent in the second half.
Coach's Comments
After the game, Head Coach Ryan Bertoia spoke about where his team stands entering the final stretch:
"We competed and we showed stretches where we were the tougher team, but at this time of year, stretches aren't enough. We're running out of chances. There's no margin left. If we don't execute — defensively, on the glass, in transition — we'll be done, and that's not acceptable for this group. We're fighting for a postseason spot, and that urgency has to show up in every possession. The opportunity is still there, but now it's about discipline, focus, and finishing the job."
Up Next
With a growing sense of urgency as they push for a spot in the WHAC postseason, Aquinas will close out the conference road trip with a stop in Adrian, Mich., on Valentine's Day. The men's game will tip approximately 20 minutes following the conclusion of the women's contest — around 3:15 p.m. — in what will be the final regular-season Saints vs. Saints matchup, as Siena Heights prepares to close at the end of the academic year.
Be sure to visit AQSaints.com for live stats, streaming links, and full postgame coverage.
