SPARKILL, NY (Dec. 19, 2024) - St. Thomas Aquinas grabbed an early 3-2 and never looked back racing out to a 91-74 win over Georgian Court Thursday afternoon. Georgian Court kept things close for the most part, but the Spartans were able to hold GCU at arm's length and hold on for the win.

How it Happened
• Georgian Court shot better than 40% for the night, but struggled from three hitting just 3-20. They were also just above 60% at the foul line going 11-18.
• St. Thomas Aquinas meanwhile shot 46.5% overall and were 7-15 from distance. They didn't convert well at the line either, shooting 64%, but made 18-of-28.
• The Lions led in the rebounding department, 48-44, and scored 14 second-chance points from 13 offensive rebounds.
• GCU did however turn the ball over 18 times, leading to 19 Spartan points. The Lions forced just 10 turnovers on defense.
• STAC clogged the shooting lanes and were credited with 10 blocks on 74 Georgian Court field goal attempts.
1st Half
• Georgian Court's Khalil Baker got the first bucket of the game on the Lions first possession.
• STAC scored from a turnover to tie and took the lead, 3-2 at the foul line at the 18:40 mark and led the rest of the way.
• The Lions stuck around for a bit and scores from Cam Edmonds and Jahsan Johnson kept the Lions within two, 12:05 left in the half.
• The Spartans scored six straight to build their largest lead, 18-10 halfway through the opening stanza.
• STAC pushed the lead to double-digits for the first time, 22-12, but a 14-4 GCU run tied things at 26 with less than five minutes to play.
• Edmonds tied the game with a layup. Johnson and Miles White each hit three-pointers during the run.
• But as soon as that run ended, one started for STAC. They scored 12 straight and finished the half on a 14-2 run over the final 4:20 to lead 40-28 at the break.
2nd Half
• Georgian Court remained competitive in the second half. Down by as much as 13, they fought to get to within single-digits and were down seven, 49-42, with 15:28 to play.
• Justin Agyare-Nkansah made it a two-possession game with a layup, but STAC's offense was too much.
• They went on another run, this time 13-4 as a layup put them up 15 just past the mid-point in the half.
• The lead remained in double-digits the rest of the way from there and the Spartans took the 91-74 win.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Cam Edmonds had another 30-point night hitting 30 on the nose on 11-19 shooting.
• Khalil Baker was also in double-figures scoring 14 going 7-11 overall with six rebounds.
• Justin Harper pulled down a team-best seven rebounds and scored six points.
• Taheen Braswell-Brown chipped in four point and six rebounds.

For the Spartans
• Luis Risquez scored 21 points with seven rebounds going 8-9 from the floor.
• Troy-reon Ramos scored 16.
• Hartnel Haye just missed a double-double with 11 points and eight boards.

News and Notes
• Edmonds is just the second Lion to ever have multiple 30-point games in a single season, joining Caleb Bowser in 2018-19.
• Edmonds also surpassed 600 career points.
• Justin Harper pulled down his 100th career rebound.
• The Lions set season-highs in field goals made and attempted as well as total rebounds. 

Up Next
• Georgian Court has one more game left in the year 2024. They'll be at home to No. 7 Fairmont State Sunday afternoon, Dec. 22 at 1 p.m.