Fallin's Barbeque Postgame Report - Warner

THOMASVILLE, Ga. - Willie Holloway scored a season-high 19 points, and Katrell Myers provided 16 off the bench as Thomas took down No. 24 Warner (Fla.), 70-66, on Saturday afternoon inside TU Gymnasium in Sun Conference (TSC) action. The Night Hawks end a five-game losing streak in the series and improve to 1-1 this season against top 25 opponents.

Holloway was 8-of-15 shooting and tied a season-high with nine rebounds. Myers, in his first game this season, was 6-of-12 from the field to go along with eight boards. D.J. Roulhac had 10 points. Ivan Tomic and JaVoris Cooks each had seven rebounds. Keion Peoples dished out five assists.

"It means a lot and really shows what we are capable of," Myers said when asked what a win over a top 25 team meant for his squad. 

Khalil Ozuna provided 20 points on 10-of-18 shooting and eight rebounds in the loss. Melton Sanders had 15 points and six boards. Nick Macon scored all 10 of his team's bench points.

Thomas (5-6, 2-3 TSC) shot 41.7 percent (25-of-60) from the floor and 18-of-25 from the stripe. The Night Hawks totaled 18 assists on 25 made baskets and outrebounded Warner (8-4, 3-2 TSC) 50-28, including 20-11 on the offensive glass, leading to 12 second chance points. Thomas outscored the visitors in the paint, 38-24.

The Royals shot 40 percent (26-of-65) overall and 9-of-14 from the free throw line.

Both teams struggled from deep, going a combined 7-of-31.

The Night Hawks outscored Warner 18-9 in the final 7:16 of the first half, limiting the Royals to just 4-of-11 from the floor during the stretch, to lead 37-27 at the break.

Thomas stretched its advantage to 12 points three times in the first 1:41 of the second period. 

An Ozuna dunk in transition at the seven-minute mark whittled his team's deficit to 54-53, but a Tomic layup 2:03 later stretched the margin back to five. Cooks found Holloway on a fastbreak for a two-handed slam with 1:45 to play to keep Thomas' lead at five points.

Sanders canned a trey with 13 seconds remaining, but Cooks converted the double bonus to seal his team's fourth win in five home games this season.

The Night Hawks continue TSC action against Webber International (Fla.) on Wednesday, Dec. 13, with the game to be played at Warner. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.