Washington, D.C. - Four Spartans scored in double figures, as the St. Thomas Aquinas College Men's Basketball team slipped past the University of the District of Columbia, 71-67, on Wednesday evening at the Dr. Edwin Bancroft Henderson Sports Complex in our Nation's Capital.

STAC improves to 4-3 overall and 1-0 in ECC action, while UDC falls to 0-6 and 0-1.

Starrell Hearns recorded a game-high 17 points for the maroon and gold, while teammates Ky Panda-Massey (12 points), William Landram II (12 points) and Joshua Michigan (11 points) also factored in the Spartans' totals by scoring in double digits. Meanwhile, Ty Williams tallied a team-high 16 points for the Firebirds.

STAC shot 32.4 percent (23-71) from the field, while UDC shot 38.0 percent (19-50) from the floor.

STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Eight Spartans logged double-digit minutes in the contest. 
• Ky Panda-Massey led the maroon and gold with five assists on the night.
• Starrell Hearns hit 6 of his 12 field goal attempts and all five of his free throws. Meanwhile, Panda-Massey went 5-for-12 from the floor.
• STAC out-rebounded District of Columbia by a 45-38 count, with William Landram II grabbing a game-high 11 boards for the Spartans.
• St. Thomas Aquinas swiped 15 steals, with the Firebirds turning the ball over on 21 separate occasions.
• The Spartans earned advantages in two team statistical categories over District of Columbia: Second Chance Points (14-4) and Points in the Paint (36-24).
• The game featured five ties and 12 lead changes.
• STAC's largest lead of the game came at early in Wednesday's contest, when the Spartans led by seven points, 10-3, on a Joshua Michigan three-point jump shot.
• St. Thomas Aquinas trailed District of Columbia, 29-28 at the half and shot 27.8 percent (10-for-36) from the field and 75.0 percent (6-for-8) from the foul line.
• Ky Panda-Massey and Joshua Michigan led the Spartans with seven first half points apiece, with Panda-Massey shooting 50.0 percent (3-for-6) from the field and Michigan shooting 60.0 percent (2-of-5) from the floor.
• STAC's best shooting half came in the second stanza, as the Spartans shot 37.1 percent (13-35) from the field, and 80.0 percent (16-20) from the free-throw line.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS: 

• Ten Firebirds logged double-digit minutes in the contest. 
• Ty Williams led District of Columbia with 16 points, while David Pope (13 points) and Michael Harrell (12 points) also scored in double figures.
• Harrell also led District of Columbia with four assists on the evening.
• Williams went 5-for-8 from the floor and 5-of-6 from the foul line. Meanwhile, Pope went 4-for-6 from the field and 4-of-5 from the charity stripe.
• Michael Harrell also grabbed a team-high six boards for the Firebirds
• District of Columbia picked up eight steals, with the Spartans turning the ball over on 14 separate occasions.
• The Firebirds earned advantages in two team statistical categories over St. Thomas Aquinas: Fastbreak Points (18-15) and Bench Points (34-12).
• UDC's largest lead of the game came at midway through the second stanza, when the Firebirds led by six points, 49-43, on a Ty Williams jump shot.
• Kevon Corley led all Firebirds' scorers with seven first half points, while shooting 40.0 percent (2-of-5) from the field, 50.0 percent (1-for-2) from three and 100.0 percent (2-of-2) from the foul line.
• District of Columbia's best shooting half also came in the second stanza, as the Firebirds shot 47.8 percent (11-23) from the field and 93.8 percent (15-16) from the free-throw line.

UP NEXT:

STAC hosts the College of Staten Island on Saturday, December 6 at Aquinas Hall Gymnasium. Please note the special start time of 6:00 p.m. between the Spartans and Dolphins.