BUFFALO, N.Y. – Facing against the 15th-ranked team in the country Sunday afternoon, the D'Youville University men's basketball team put forth a valiant effort but fell to St. Thomas Aquinas College by a score of 101-86.
 
The Saints (7-18, 4-10 ECC) were led by Bryson Birdsong (Winter Haven, Fla.) with a career-high 29 points while Kevin Thompson (Buffalo, N.Y.) added 15 points. Nasir Hammonds (Norfolk, Va.) led the team with six boards while Noah Hutchins (Buffalo, N.Y.) dished out five assists.
 
Both teams came out trading punches for the duration of the first half, with neither team gaining more than a two-possession lead until the final seconds before the break. With the team deadlocked at 27-27 with 10:39 left in the half, DYU went on a 10-4 run to make it a 37-31 game. The Saints got contributions from a number of players including three-pointers from Chase Jenkins (Titusville, Fla.) and Hammonds.
 
STAC closed out the half going on a 7-0 run to take the 49-42 lead into the break.
 
The Spartans were able to gain a lead by as many as 13 points with 14:33 left in regulation before DYU was able to cut the deficit to single digits. The Saints went a 6-0 run led by Jenkins with four points to make it a 63-54 game with 13:45 left. STAC was able to retake the momentum, gaining a lead by as many as 19-points.
 
DYU went 28-for-60 (46.7 percent) from the floor and 22-for-26 (84.6 percent) from the free throw line. STAC went 32-for-61 (52.5 percent) from the field and 31-for-36 (86.1 percent) from the free throw line. The Spartans held the advantage on the glass, grabbing 39 rebounds to the Saint' 22 rebounds.
 
The Saints will be back in action next Sunday, February 25th, as they make the short trip to face Daemen University at 2 p.m.