MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Thomas University Men's basketball team showed better shooting efficiency from the field and the free throw line than William Carey, but it was not enough to add a Win to the stat sheet as the Night Hawks fell short 73-69 to the Crusaders Saturday afternoon.
 
Despite giving up the most turnovers on the season (21) and shooting 21.1% from long-range, TU (2-6, 2-1 TSC) managed to keep the game close throughout, trailing by no more than eight points.  Of the 40 total minutes in the game, approximately eight of those minutes saw both teams tied.
 
WCU (2-3) jumped out to a 4-0 lead before a basket and good free throw by the Night Hawks cut the deficit to one.  Thomas saw its first lead of the game at the 14:52 mark, when Junior Guard Tim Williamson hit a 3-Pointer to make the contest 9-6.  The Crusaders would respond with a good shot outside the arch, tying the game again 9-9. 
 
After a good jumper from Junior Forward Shamar Brown gave Thomas the lead again, WCU went on a 13-2 scoring tear over a span of 3:53. 
 
Down 25-17 with 3:07 in the first half, the Night Hawks spent one minute and 43 seconds on an 8-0 scoring run, including back-back 3-Pointers from Junior Guards Trint Bryant and Toriano Lewis.  A Maxwell Starwood 3 would put WCU back on top, followed by each team exchanging a pair of good free throws.  On the final possession of the half, Junior Guard Jordan Booker stole the ball and passed it to Lewis for a potential game-tying 3-Pointer, but Lewis' miss gave the Crusaders a three-point lead heading to the locker room, 30-27.
 
The Night Hawks came out flying to start the second half, going on a 7-1 scoring run in the half's first two minutes to retake the lead, 34-31.  Thomas would create another scoring run when the team trailed WCU 50-44 with 9:39 remaining, scoring eight, unanswered points from Shamar Brown and Sophomore Guard Daniel Merrius to put the Hunter Green & White up 52-50.
 
The lead would be short-lived, as William Carey built a 12-4 scoring run over the course of three minutes and 20 seconds, giving the Crusaders a 64-56 lead with 4:02 left in the game.
 
Despite the Night Hawks' best efforts, WCU managed to keep a one-possession lead, which was put in jeopardy when Trint Bryant was fouled making the basket to put the game within four for TU.  A key miss by Bryant to complete the three-point play paved the way for the Crusaders to ice the game with a pair of good free throws from Dajon Whitworth to preserve the team's 73-69 win.