THOMASVILLE, Ga. - Thomas hosts Life (Ga.), the 2017 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship runner-up which is currently ranked ninth in the Division I poll, on Wednesday in non-conference action. Tip-off inside TU Gymnasium is set for 7 p.m. ET. Admission is free.

In addition to live stats, the match will be televised online through Night Hawks Television. Updates will also be available on Thomas' official men's basketball Twitter account (@NightHawksMBKB).

ABOUT THOMAS

Thomas is coming off an 86-65 win over Virgin Islands on Monday in its non-conference home opener.

Thomas trailed 26-8 midway through the first half following a Chase Thomas steal and layup for Virgin Islands, but coach Brent Crews' squad closed the period outscoring the visitors 30-11 to lead 38-37 at the break.

Leading 50-47 in the second period, the Night Hawks went on a 10-0 run to open up the affair.

Johnnel Ginnie finished with a game-high 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting and a 7-of-9 effort from the charity stripe to lead four double-figure scorers in the win. Keion Peoples added 13 points, while Javoris Cooks and Jerodd Blount had 11 and 10, respectively. Willie Holloway contributed nine rebounds, while Blount added seven.

Thomas shot 47.5 percent (28-of-59) from the floor and 25-of-33 from the line.

The Night Hawks outscored Virgin Islands in the paint, 40-12, and won the battle on the boards, 49-31.

ABOUT LIFE

The Running Eagles, coming off a 26-11 campaign last season, are ranked No. 9 in the 2017–18 NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll.

No. 3-seed Texas Wesleyan defeated No. 3-seed Life, 86-76, in the 2017 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship title game.

Life fell short of its fourth title in program history, having claimed the red banner in 1997, 1999 and 2000.

This year's team features six NCAA Division I transfers, including 6-9 forward Joe Strugg from Mississippi State and 6-1 guard Ashanti Burgess from Xavier, after losing its top three scorers from a season ago.

OCTOBER, WE WILL MISS YOU

The Green and White improved to 6-0 all-time in the month of October following Monday's 21-point win inside TU Gymnasium.

GINNIE IS GOOD

Ginnie has averaged 18.0 points and 8.5 rebounds, both second on the team, in the first two wins.

COOKS BECOMES ALL-TIME LEADING SCORER

On Oct. 27, Cooks moved past former teammate Adonai Rogers at the 16:47 mark of the first half on a trey to become the school's all-time leading scorer.

COOKS SURPASSES 1,000 POINTS

Also on Oct. 27, Cooks became the program's first member of the 1,000-point club following two made free throws with 1:13 left in the second half. He now has 1,005 career points.

TSC PREDICTION

Thomas has been picked to finish sixth in the 2017-18 Sun Conference (TSC) Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league office announced Oct. 19. The Night Hawks earned 44 points.

The Night Hawks return first team All-TSC selection Cooks, who led the squad averaging 18.7 points per game. 

TOP 25 OPPONENTS

Thomas faces three ranked opponents - No. 14 Florida Memorial, No. 20 Saint Thomas (Fla.), No. 25 Warner (Fla.) - and two that are receiving votes - Keiser (Fla.), Southeastern (Fla.) - in the 2017-18 NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Top 25.

RIVERS TO REDSHIRT THIS SEASON

Thomas' Demetrius Rivers is redshirting this season and will have four seasons of eligibility remaining.