Molloy College Defeats Spartans, 70-61

The St. Thomas Aquinas men's basketball team fell to the visiting Lions of Molloy College, 70-61.  The Spartans received a team high sixteen points and seven rebounds from Jelani Winfield.  Winfield was 6-6 from the field and added three steals.  Chad Williams scored ten points and had three steals in twenty-two minutes off the bench.

Molloy got off to a quick start outscoring STAC 15-2 in the opening four minutes of play.  The Spartans pulled within four off a dunk by freshman Ra'Shad James with 9:41 remaining in the first half.  However, the Lions extended their lead back to double digits going into the break ahead 39-25.  Molloy was led by Carl Palmer who scored twenty-four points and Brian Hutchinson who finished with fifteen points and ten rebounds. Seniors Akeem Comas and Ahmed Allen added eight point each for STAC.  

The Spartans finished as the fifth seed in the ECC and will travel to Dowling College on Wednesday in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs.  Tip off is scheduled for 7:00 PM.  Saturday's game represented senior day for the Spartans who honored Akeem Comas, Pierre Gaspard, Brian Harnishfeger, Anthony Mills, Robert Payne, Terrance Portis, Chris Williams and Jelani Winfield in a pregame ceremony.