THOMASVILLE, Ga. – Behind the single-game career high 26 points and eight three-pointers by sophomore guard Javoris Cooks, the Thomas University men's basketball team snapped a six-game losing skid this afternoon defeating Allen University 86-75 to start their 2016 portion of the season.
 
Thomas (6-8, 0-1 TSC) showed signs of rust after the long break allowing the Yellow Jackets to open the game with an 8-0 lead.  Freshman Jalen Bonds snapped the scoring drought with 14:55 remaining, leading the Night Hawks on a 16-9 run to take their first lead, 18-17, of the contest with 4:51 left before the break.
 
Cooks hit his first of eight three-pointers with 4:36 on the clock pushing Thomas' advantage to 21-17.  The Night Hawks closed the first half with a 5-2 run to head into the intermission with the 26-19 lead.
 
The second half, which lasted an hour and 47 minutes, was filled with a plethora fouls (39 combined by both teams in the second half) that put Thomas on the line 22 of its 34 visits.  Cooks single-handedly dominated the second half of play, turning the tide for Thomas in their victory.  The Cordele, Ga., native went 5-for-5 from behind the arch to open the half, adding on to his two previous makes to end the first half.
 
The Hunter Green and White's lead grew to a 23 point, 58-35 advantage at its height with just under seven minutes left in the game.  Allen (4-12) continued to fight and pulled within seven, 76-69, on a three by Seth Fitzgerald with 96 seconds left in regulation, but the Yellow Jackets' "Hack-a-Shaq" strategy down the stretch backfired on them as Thomas connected on six of its nine attempts from the charity stripe in the final 1:36 of the game.
 
With its final non-conference game of the season now in the books, the Night Hawks now start their preparation towards Sun Conference play with their victory over the Yellow Jackets.  After two games in three days, featuring Florida Memorial and No. 22 Keiser University, the Night Hawks will hit the road for a four game stint against (RV) Southeastern, No. 13 Webber International, Johnson & Wales, and Ave Maria.
 
Head coach Brent Crews reflected on his squad's effort, "The last three practices have been three of the hardest we've had all season, and the results have been the best we've had as a group.  I believe our team is coming around and starting to play the way we practice."
 
The Night Hawks return to action on Thursday, Jan. 7 when they host Florida Memorial in Sun Conference action.  Tipoff from the TU Gymnasium is slated for 7:30 p.m.

By the Numbers:
3 – Night Hawk in double figures in scoring
5 – Days until Thomas hosts Florida Memorial University at the TU Gymnasium
9 – Game high total of rebounds by Jalen Bonds
14 – Turnovers by Night Hawks
26 – Points scored by TU's scoring leader Javoris Cooks
52 – Total rebounds by the Night Hawks
86 – Points scored by Thomas
 
For up-to-date information on this game and other TU Athletics, visit http://www.TUNightHawks.com. Stay up-to-date with news, scores, photos, game summaries, play-by-play, and feature stories of your TU men's basketball team by following them via Twitter at @NightHawksMBKB.