THOMASVILLE, Ga. – For the second, straight year, it came down to the wire for the Thomas University Men's basketball team against RV Keiser, but this time there were no extra free throws to bail out the Seahawks as TU held on to defeat the defending conference tournament champions 64-62 at TU Gymnasium.
 
The Night Hawks (4-2, 1-0 SUN) saw a 17-point lead at the half evaporate, as KU (1-1, 0-1 SUN) flew back with 42 second-half points.  Overall, Thomas shot over 41% from the field, while knocking down 40% of shots from long-range.
 
Coming into the game averaging just under 18% from the field, Senior Guard Trint Bryant showed out for his hometown, matching his third-highest career point total (24) while shooting 8-for-13 (.615) and 4-for-7 from outside the perimeter.
 
Out of the gate, Thomas did not hold back on Keiser, forcing the game's first turnover within the first 21 seconds.  Bryant quickly followed up TU's defensive effort with a good 3-Ptr.  The Lincoln High product set the tone of the contest, notching a third of his point total in a little over seven minutes.
 
After a good layup from Graduate Reggie Wright gave Thomas an 18-11 lead, KU's Christian Miller-Cardwell single-handedly scored the contest's next six points to pull within one of TU (18-17) with 8:07 remaining in the first half.
 
The Night Hawks responded with its best defensive effort yet: a 15-0 scoring run that did not see the Seahawks score a basket for 7:03.  The half finished with a clutch jumper from Fifth year DeSean Enzor that gave TU a 37-20 lead heading into intermission.
 
After both teams exchanged a few baskets to start the second half, Keiser spent slightly over 11 minutes on a blazing 28-9 scoring run that finished with a pair of Miller-Cardwell 3-Ptrs. that gave the Seahawks its first lead of the night, 55-51 with 6:41 left in regulation.
 
After a pair of good Bryant free throws cut the lead to two, Keiser's Core'Von Lott would score his only basket of the night to put the lead back up to four, which proved to be the Seahawks' largest lead of the game. The lead would not last long, as an Enzor layup and a Bryant dunk would tie the game at 57 at the 3:51 mark.
 
After both teams exchanged a missed 3-Pt. attempt, Enzor came up with the contest's biggest steal that led to a go-ahead basket before Seahawks' David Pierce Jr. hit a 3-Ptr. at the top of the key to put Keiser in front 60-59 with 58 seconds left.
 
In the final minute, both Keiser and Thomas exchanged free throws that gave the Night Hawks a 63-62 at the 22-second mark.  Keiser would try to win it with the go-ahead layup from Antwan Claxton, but Bryant denied the junior, leading to a rebound by Junior Justin Figueroa who added one free-throw to extend the lead to 64-62.  The Seahawks tried once more to win the game with a three-point attempt, but the shot from Pierce Jr. hit the side rim and out, preserving the Night Hawks' 64-62 win.
 
Both Enzor and Figueroa finished the night with 14 points apiece, both shooting 40% or better.
 
TU by the Numbers
1:        SUN Conference Win
2:        Points Scored by reigning SUN Player of the Week Shaq Harris
3:        Players Scoring Double-Digits
4:        Wins Against Teams with the SUN Player of the Week under Head Coach TJ Rines
8:        Free Throws Made
9:        Steals
17:      Largest Lead of the Night
24:      Made Field Goals
32:      Team Rebounds
64:      Total Points Scored
 
Thomas returns to non-conference action Monday in a grudge match against Middle Georgia State.  Tipoff at TU Gymnasium is scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
For up-to-date information on games and other TU Athletics, visit http://www.TUNightHawks.com. Stay up-to-date with news, scores, photos, game summaries, play-by-play, and feature stories of your TU men's basketball team by following them via Twitter at @NightHawksMBKB.