THOMASVILLE, GA – In the final game of 2024, Thomas could not overcome a slow first half and fell to the Loyola Wolfpack in the TU Gym on Tuesday night.
The Night Hawks started the first half slow as an 11-0 run in the first four minutes put them behind early, the deficit continued to grow as Thomas found themselves down 20 with 10:54 to go.
Deonta Jones soon knocked down a jumper to spark a 13-4 run to get the Night Hawks within ten with 6:05 left in the half. The climb started for Thomas as a
Noah Lattin layup and a couple of three pointers from
Jailin Lee and
Ja'Vian Baker brought the lead down to single digits. Loyola answered with a three of their own, but Lee and Baker responded again with a layup each to keep the deficit at eight, however, a Wolfpack layup sent Thomas into the locker room down ten.
The second half looked to be an uphill climb as the Wolfpack held a 14-point lead at the 12:34 mark, they looked to put the Night Hawks away. But
Andre Lightbourne hit a three to cut the lead to 11, then
Armani Thomas knocked down one of his own to bring them within eight. Both teams traded misses, with Loyola only making shots from the charity stripe, until Lightbourne made his fourth three of the night to narrow the lead to seven, on the next possession Lightbourne made a mid-range jumper to bring it down to five with 9:16 to go. The Night Hawks were primed to make another run, However, the Wolfpack responded with layups and free throws to maintain the lead. With 4:38 left, Lightbourne answered the call again, hitting his fifth shot from deep to be once again within five, then with 1:31 to go,
Armani Thomas could not hit a three and Loyola maintained the lead until the end of the game.
Lightbourne finished with 19 points and two rebounds and
Armani Thomas finished with 12 points, five boards, two assists and two steals.
Deonta Jones finished with two points, four rebounds, four steals and he tied his career high in assists with 11.
The Night Hawks will return to action in the new year in a rematch with Coastal Georgia on Thursday, January 2
nd at 2:00PM.
