Men's Basketball Jump Start 2020 Season With Win Over Taylor

(CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.) - Thomas More University men's basketball opened up the season with a 65-59 win over Taylor University on Friday night (October 30) in the Connor Convocation Center.

• Sophomore Noah Pack (Georgetown, Ohio/Georgetown) got things started for the Saints 17 seconds in the game giving them a 3-0 lead.
• After falling behind 6-3 senior Garren Bertsch (Alexandria, Ky./Campbell County) would score or assist on the next three baskets, re-taking the lead 9-6.
• The Saints would go on a 16-3 run led by junior Ryan Batte (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) who would lead the Saint in scoring with 24 points. 
• Taylor went on a run of its own bringing the score back within seven. TMU would answer with a 8-0 run to end the half 39-24.

• Garren Bertsch Would get things started for the Saint in second half with two free throws making the score 41-24.
• Senior Braden Connor (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) would sink a three-pointer with 14:30 remaining in the second half giving TMU a 16 point lead.
• Freshman Derek Eddings Cincinnati, Ohio/La Salle) made a lay-up on an assist by Reid Jolly (Alexandria, Ky./Campbell County) to keep the Saints ahead by 14.
• Junior Logan Swackhammer (Chillicothe, Ohio/Unioto would ice the game for Thomas More with 1:21 remaining giving them a 56-65 lead.

• Thomas More improved to 1-0 for the season.
• For the game, Thomas More shot 50.9% from the floor.
• Batte finished with 24 points.
• Bertsch score 14 points.
• Jolly finished with 11 points and 7 rebounds.
• Swackhammer had 7 rebounds and 3 assists.

• The Saints will tip-off from Connor Convocation against 12^th ranked Marian (Ind.) on November 11, at 7:00 p.m. ET.