MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Thomas' Javoris Cooks and Eric Johnson combined for 34 points Saturday afternoon, but Talladega (Ala.) shot 52 percent in the second half to pull away for a 77-61 win in the final game of the Veteran's Day Classic, hosted by Faulkner (Ala.), inside Tine Davis Gymnasium. The Night Hawks fall to 1-2 this season against NAIA Division I teams.

"We faced another great team today with a lot of tradition," Green and White coach Brent Crews said. "Playing this hard a non-conference schedule will make us stronger for conference play, which starts next week."

A 10-0 run gave Thomas (3-2) a 15-9 edge at the 12:44 mark of the first half following consecutive treys from Cooks and Johnson.

However, trailing 18-13, Talladega (5-1) countered with an 11-1 run to grab a 24-19 edge with 8:18 to play in the period. Following a Cooks 3, the Tornadoes held Crews' squad scoreless for the final 3:22, as Thomas went 0-of-4 from behind the arc down the stretch and trailed 35-27 at intermission.

Cooks and Johnnel Ginnie opened the second half with back-to-back 3-pointers to bring the Green and White within two at 35-33. The two players scored the first 11 Night Hawk points of the frame, but a 9-0 Talladega run midway through the half stretched its margin to 52-38 at the 11:41 mark. Thomas trailed by double digits the rest of the way.

Deangelo Anthony finished with 18 points to lead five Tornadoes in double figures. Devonte Dixon had 13 points, while Brandon Banks recorded a double-double off the bench with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Traevis Graham had 11 points and nine rebounds. Khaliel Spearman contributed 11 points off the bench.

Cooks ended with 20 points, including six made treys, to go along with eight rebounds and five assists. Johnson netted 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting, including 2-of-3 from deep and 4-of-6 from the line. Ginnie pumped in eight points, while Willie Holloway tallied seven points and nine rebounds, including six on the offensive glass.

Talladega shot 43.3 percent (26-of-60) overall but just 29.4 percent (5-of-17) from 3-point range. The Tornadoes went just 20-of-30 from the charity stripe, but Anthony and Dixon were each 6-of-6.

The Night Hawks made 11 (11-of-29) buckets from behind the arc and went 14-of-20 from the free throw line.

Thomas opens Sun Conference play at Keiser (Fla.), which is receiving votes in the latest NAIA Division II Top 25 Poll, on Thursday, Nov. 16, at 7:30 p.m. ET.