NORTH MIAMI, Fla. - Johnson & Wales (Fla.) defeated Thomas, 68-55, on Saturday afternoon inside the Wildcat Center in Sun Conference (TSC) action. 

"We started slow but did a good job to come back and lead in the second half," Night Hawk coach Brent Crews said. "Johnson & Wales did a good job of making shots in the second half and getting to the line, which proved to be the difference."

Johnson & Wales (1-4, 1-1 TSC) opened the game on a 9-0 run, holding Thomas (3-4, 0-2 TSC) scoreless for the first 4:51 until a D.J. Roulhac layup. The Night Hawks used a 7-0 run to trim the deficit to 19-17 following a Jalen Bonds offensive rebound and putback at the 2:03 mark. Back-to-back treys by Johnnel Ginnie and Jerodd Blount in the final 59 seconds of the period brought the Green and White within one possession, 25-23, at halftime.

The Wildcats scored the first five points of the second stanza, as an Anthony Young 3 gave his team a 30-24 upper hand with 18:46 to go, but trailing 34-25, Thomas would force a tie at the 15:28 mark courtesy of a 9-0 run by Blount and Bonds. A 7-0 run, capped by an Ivan Tomic layup midway through the half, gave Crews' team its first lead of the day, 44-42.

However, Johnson & Wales countered with a 9-0 run, as the Wildcats outscored the Night Hawks 26-14 in the final 9:14 to pull away. After being limited to less than 32 percent shooting, 5-of-21 from 3 and 0-2 from the line in the first half, the home team shot 55 percent (11-of-20) from the field, 62.5 percent (5-of-8) from behind the arc and 94 percent (16-of-17) from the line in the final 20 minutes. 

Nick Preradovic led Johnson & Wales with 16 points. He was 4-of-8 from deep and 4-of-4 from the line. Gino Fils-Aime added 14 points, while Antonio Ruby had 13. Isa Brandon pulled down nine rebounds.

JaVoris Cooks ended with 15 points for Thomas, going a perfect (4-of-4) from the stripe. Blount recorded 10 points and four steals, while Bonds contributed nine points on 4-of-7 shooting. Cooks and Ginnie each hauled in seven rebounds. Tomic had three steals. 

The Night Hawks step out of conference Tuesday, Nov. 21, for an exhibition at Barry (Fla.), ranked No. 12 in the latest NCAA Division II NABC Coaches' Top 25. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.