ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Sunday afternoon provided the statement victory the Roberts Wesleyan men's basketball team has been looking for all season. The Redhawks defeated the defending East Coast Conference champions Saint Thomas Aquinas, 71-65.
It was the first time Roberts has beaten the ECC powerhouse program since March 2, 2014 when the Redhawks came away with an 80-65 win while on the road at STAC.
Coming into the game the Spartans were heavily favored as the No. 12 team in the nation according to NABC Coaches poll and No. 11 in the national D2SIDA poll. And with the Spartans coming off its first ECC loss to Daemen on Friday in overtime, the team was primed for a big game in Rochester to avoid losing two straight.
The Redhawks going into the game had won its previous two games against Mercy and District of Columbia and sat in fourth place among the conference.
Helping lead the charge for Roberts was
Peyton McLaurin who has had one of the best months of basketball in his collegiate career averaging nearly 17 points a game this month including games of 29 and 26 points earlier in January. The senior guard/forward finished with 27 points and 11 rebounds on Sunday against STAC for his third double-double this season. McLaurin was 10-of-19 from the field and 5-of-9 from three point range.
Isaiah Lewis and
Justin Vaughan also scored double digits with 13 points and 10 points respectively.
From the 15:25 mark of the first half on the Redhawks controlled the lead. Lewis' three pointer gave Roberts a 12-11 lead and the Spartans never saw the lead again for the remainder of the game.
A 9-0 run midway through the first half helped the Redhawks build a double digit lead. STAC was able to cut the lead to nine points before halftime but at the break Roberts held a 36-27 lead.
The Redhawks came out firing in the second half and pushed the lead to 15 points with 14:41 remaining in the game. But the Spartans wouldn't allow Roberts to run away with the game cutting their deficit to six points with 4:26 left in the second half.
STAC made it a one possession game with 1:15 remaining when Osbel Caraballo hit a layup to bring the score to 66-63. Following the made basket Louis Griffith came away with a steal and breakaway layup to draw the Spartans within one point.
Down the stretch the Redhawks went 5-of-6 from the free throw line and were able to keep the Spartans from scoring another basket.
STAC was led by senior guard Kameron Murrell who finished with 20 points.
Roberts (9-7, 5-4 ECC) will have another tough test on Thursday in the second stanza of the i90 Thruway rivalry against Daemen College (16-3, 8-1 ECC). The Wildcats are currently ranked No. 17 nationally in the D2SIDA poll. Back on Dec. 5 the Redhawks fell to Daemen at home 78-70 in a nationally broadcast game as part of the NCAA DII National Showcase. Tip off on Thursday is scheduled for 8 p.m. in Daemen's Lumsden Gymnasium. Student's interested in traveling to the game are encouraged to visit the Roberts' athletic department for more information.
