Box Score


The Night Hawks (14-10, 7-7) took a bite out of the visiting Johnson & Wales University Wildcats (13-13, 5-10) with a 75-67 Sun Conference victory on Wednesday night at the TU Gymnasium.

TU opened up a 5-2 lead in the early going on a three point basket by senior forward Justyn Watkins but JWU responded with a 7-2 run to take a 9-7 lead with 15:25 to play. The teams exchanged buckets over the next six minutes finding themselves locked up at 19 with 9:09 left in the half. With 7:15 to play, Watkins broke the tie with a bucket but JWU responded immediately to tie game, once again, at 21. Junior forward Rodney Sturkie gave Thomas a four point lead with a bucket and two free throws but the Night Hawks were unable to build upon the momentum as JWU used a 5-1 run to take a 26-25 lead with four minutes left in the half. An alley-oop lay-up by sophomore center Andrea Robinson put TU ahead by one but once again the relentless efforts of Johnson & Wales saw them charge back, this time using a 9-4 run to close out the half and take a 34-30 advantage into the locker room.

In the second half the Night Hawks made it a two point game, 40-38, first with two Watkins free throws and followed with a lay-up by junior guard Max Grace after a steal. Watkins would find himself, once again, at the charity stripe this time knocking down two to knot the game at forty. A flagrant against Thomas put JWU on the line for two and the conversion gave them a two point lead. TU stretched their advantage to nine, 54-45, on a three pointer by freshman forward Adonai Rogers with 10:20 to play. Rogers made it a 57-47 game when he, once again, connected from downtown minutes later. A three by Johnson and Wales made it a six point game but a Watkins slam at the 5:15 mark stretched it to eight. JWU made it a five point game with less than four to play but TU responded with two free throws from Watkins and a slam by Rogers to open the game to 69-60 with 1:27 to play. TU wrapped up the game making their free throws down the stretch to seal their ninth home win of the year.

Watkins finished the game with 19 overall while Grace knocked down 16 including 2 of 3 from downtown. Robinson (11) and Rogers (10) rounded out the four double digit scorers for the Night Hawks. The fast paced game featured 11 lead changes and 7 ties.

Thomas will next travel to Lakeland, Fla. on Saturday February 15^th to face #18 Southeastern University.