The St. Thomas Aquinas men's basketball team lost at Nyack, 65-63. Justin Brown led STAC with 18 points and 5 rebounds while Irin Stark added 14 points and 4 rebounds. Jamie Blanchard had 7 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks for STAC.
Blanchard scored a layup at the 10:32 mark in the first half to give STAC a fifteen point lead, 22-7. STAC maintined a double digit lead for the majority of the half taking a 32-22 advantage into the locker room. Blanchard along with Stark each paced STAC with 7 points in the first half.
Nyack cut into the Spartans lead early in the second half opening on a 11-2 run. Matt Morgan had seven points in the decisive run for the Warriors. Both teams exchanged the lead throughout the half and Brown's jumper at 4:57 gave STAC a 49-48 lead. Nyack's Chris Williams tied the game sinking one of two free throws with 3:53 remaining. Neither team scored for a three minute span as the Warriors eventually regained the lead behind a Morgan three-pointer with :53 seconds remaining. Brown made the first of his two free throws. James Oyamo grabbed the rebound for Nayck but turned the ball over as Daniel Skinner stole the pass and was fouled in return. Skinner stepped up and sank both free throws sending the game into overtime.
The Warriors went on a 7-2 run in the first over time but the Spartans responded behind 6 points from Brown. Stark made a free throw with :37 seconds left in OT to tie the game at 59. Brown had a shot to win the game that fell short resulting in a second overtime period.
Nyack's Louis Allen drained a three to give them a 62-59 lead. Stark scored a traditional three point play tying the game for the eighth time of the evening. The Warriors Lafayette Curtis made two free throws to give NYACK a 64-62 advantage. Brown connected on one of two free throws and the Spartans were force to foul. David Cerant missed the first and made the second to take a two point lead. Stark's final three at the buzzer fell short as Nyack held on for their first win of the season.
The Spartans will travel to NYIT on Wednesday for their first ECC contest.