Box Score

Men's Basketball (13-9, 6-6) slammed the NAIA #6 and defending Sun Conference Tournament Champion Embry Riddle University Eagles (20-4, 9-3), 96-74, in a dominant 22 point Sun Conference victory on Tuesday evening at the Thomas University Gymnasium. The victory, for TU, is a first over a Top 25 opponent in the new era of Night Hawk Basketball.

In a high octane first half, TU and Riddle exchanged baskets thru the opening four minutes of play. With 16:23 to play ERU took their first lead of the half but it would be short lived as senior forward Justyn Watkins responded with a three pointer to give TU a 14-13 advantage. Thomas maintained the lead and at the 10:40 mark started to pull away. First on a bucket by Watkins, followed by a put back by sophomore center Andrea Robinson to give the Night Hawks a 29-20 lead that led to an ERU time out. TU stretched the lead to fourteen when Robinson muscled his way to a put back after three consecutive attempts and rebounds. Thomas would close out the half with a lay-up in transition, after an Eagle turn over, by freshman guard Trent Madison to open up their largest lead of the half at 49-34.

Riddle seemed ready to climb back in the game as they started the 2^nd half but Watkins stalled their momentum by dropping a two and the Night Hawks never looked back. TU matched their first half intensity, smothering the Eagles with non-stop high pressure defense and an up tempo attack. A three pointer by Watkins with 15:10 to play would give Thomas a twenty point advantage. The Night Hawks opened their largest lead of the night with 12:08 remaining on a bucket by freshman guard Adonai Rogers to give TU a 69-45 lead. Thomas would not let ERU close the gap any closer than sixteen points when Riddle dropped six unanswered points to make it a 77-61 game with less than six minutes to play. In the game's final five minutes, TU would close out the game with composed play and once again open up a twenty point lead that would eventually push to 22.

Thomas shot a remarkable 67% from the field, while limiting the Eagles to 40%. The Night Hawks shot a season high 59% making 10 of 17 from behind the arc, led by Watkins (3-5) and Agard (3-4). Eleven different Night Hawks had rebounds for TU. Watkins led all shooters with 31 points while freshman point guard Dionte Agard finished the game with 16 points. Junior forward Rodney Sturkie added 12 points going 2-2 from three point land and slamming home a late dunk for the Night Hawks to add an exclamation point and bring the amped up home crowd to their feet.

TU will look to build off of the historic victory when they travel to Ave Maria, Fla. to take on Ave Maria University on Saturday February 8^th at 7PM.