Saints Roll to 107-62 Win Over UC Clermont in Home Opener

(CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.) - The Thomas More University men's basketball team shot over 60% from the field and had five scorers in double figures in a dominant 107-62 win over the University of Cincinnati Clermont in the Saints' home opener Saturday afternoon (November 2, 2019). 

• Sophomore center Ryan Batte (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) set the tone early for the Saints. He hit a jumper for Thomas More's first points of the game and converted a three-point play minutes later as the Saints built an early lead. Batte scored 12 points in the first half.
• After the Cougars cut the lead to 13-12 with 13:30 left in the opening half, the Saints scored the game's next 10 points, including two Tyrice Walker (Hamilton, Ohio/Summit Country Day) jump shots on consecutive possessions, to take a 23-12 lead with 10:12 to go.
• With 7:19 remaining in the half, Batte streaked through the Cougars defense for a dunk, then came up with a block on the other end on back-to-back plays.
• Junior guard Luke Rudy (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) made two three pointers in the final minutes of the half.
• Junior guard Braden Connor (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) made a three-pointer and a layup on consecutive possessions in the final minute of the half as the Saints took a 55-30 lead into halftime.

• Senior guard Max Knisley (Washington Court House, Ohio/Washington) started the second half hot, making three three-pointers in the first five minutes.
• Rudy made his fourth three-pointer of the game with 13:14 remaining in the game to put the Saints up 72-46.
• Thomas More passed the 100-point mark with 3:24 left when a three-pointer by Payton Jutte (Fort Recovery, Ohio/Fort Recovery) extended the lead to 101-60.

• Thomas More improved to 2-0 with the win.
• The Saints shot .621 from the field and made 13-22 three-pointers (.591).
• Thomas More attempted 30 free throws in the game, making 22 (.733).
• The Saints outrebounded UC Clermont 47-24.
• Batte led all scorers with 18 points and added four rebounds.
• Rudy and Knisley each scored 14 points with four made three-pointers, and both players added three assists.
• Walker scored 10 points and added a game-high nine rebounds.
• Reid Jolly (Alexandria, Ky./Campbell County) finished the game with 13 points and five rebounds.
• Connor had eight points and five rebounds off the bench.
• Keegan Saben (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville) scored nine points for the Saints.
• First-year center Noah Pack (Georgetown, Ohio/Georgetown) led Thomas More with five assists off the bench.
• Garren Bertsch (Alexandria, Ky./Campbell County) finished with seven points and five rebounds.

• Thomas More will return to action on Tuesday, November 5, when the Saints host Miami University Hamilton at 7 p.m.