SAINT LEO, Fla. - Thomas shot a blistering 72 percent from the field, including eight made 3-pointers, in the final 20 minutes of Tuesday evening's 75-58 win at NCAA Division II member Saint Leo (Fla.) inside the Marion Bowman Activities Center.

The Green and White improved to 4-0 this season when allowing 66 points or fewer.

The Night Hawks dealt the Lions their first loss at home this season. Tuesday was the fourth time this season the Green and Gold were held below 60 points.

JaVoris Cooks paced Thomas (6-7) with 17 points, including five made 3-pointers, to go along with six rebounds.

Hezekiah Goodwin scored 16 points to lead three Night Hawk reserves in double figures. Goodwin was 6-of-8 shooting, including 3-of-5 from deep. Ivan Tomic and Jalen Bonds finished with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Tomic, who was 4-of-6 shooting, also hauled in seven rebounds. Bonds was a perfect 5-of-5 from inside the arc.

Jakari Bush dished out five assists in the victory. Willie Holloway had four of his team's nine steals.

Trailing 31-28 at the break, Thomas scored 47 second-half points on an 18-of-25 shooting effort, including 8-of-12 performance from downtown, in the period. 

"It was great to see our guys really concentrate tonight in the second half," Thomas coach Brent Crews said. "We seized an opportunity to win, and the experience and maturity showed on the court. Our players bought into our game plan tonight."

The Night Hawks finished 51.8 percent (29-of-56) from the floor and 48 percent (12-of-25) from 3-point land.

Drago Popovic and Isaiah Hill led Saint Leo (7-8) with 11 points each, while Tyreece Brice scored 10 off the bench.

The Lions were limited to just 35.9 percent (23-of-64) from the field and 9.5 percent (2-of-21) from deep, including 0-of-9 in the final 20 minutes. Saint Leo also struggled from the free throw line, shooting just 55.6 percent (10-of-18).
 
Saint Leo charged out to a 29-22 lead with 3:11 to play in the first half after Brice drained a 3-pointer from the wing, but the Night Hawks responded with a 6-0 spurt, including a dunk by Jerodd Blount, and trailed by only three at intermission.
 
Saint Leo pushed its lead back to 36-32 on Hill layup before the Night Hawks took over. A Johnnel Ginnie dunk was followed by a Cooks trey to give the visitors the upper hand for good with 16:35 to go. Already leading 55-45, the Night Hawks used a 13-0 run in a 3:37 span to push their advantage to 23 with 5:58 to play after a Goodwin layup.

Thomas resumes Sun Conference play Thursday, Jan. 4, at No. 7 Southeastern (Fla.) at 8 p.m. ET.