Box Score (CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.) — The No. 18 Thomas More University men's basketball team edged past Life University on Thursday night (February 27, 2020) at the Connor Convocation Center in its final home game of the season, pulling away in the final minutes for a 65-59 Mid-South Conference victory that extended the Saints' winning streak to eight games.
- The two teams were deadlocked at 10-10 with 13:35 left in the first half until a Luke Rudy (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) three-pointer sparked a 14-3 run for the Saints that allowed them to open up a 24-13 lead. Thomas More was 4-for-5 from beyond the arc during the run, with Ryan Batte (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) knocking down one three and Max Knisley (Washington Court House, Ohio/Washington) hitting the other two.
- Life cut Thomas More's lead to five before back-to-back threes by Rudy and Keegan Saben (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville) extended the lead back to 11 at 32-21 with 5:17 remaining in the half.
- Batte followed with a jumper that gave the Saints their biggest lead of the game at 34-21 with 4:21 left in the half.
- The Running Eagles closed the half on a 10-0 run that made it 34-31 at halftime.
- Thomas More was 13-of-27 (48.1 percent) from the field in the opening half, including 8-of-17 (47.1 percent) from three-point range.
- Rudy had 12 points at the break after making 4-of-6 three-point attempts.
- Batte had seven points in the half.
- Batte started the second half with two baskets in the first two minutes to put the Saints up 38-33 with 18:06 to go.
- After a Life three-pointer, Rudy answered with a three of his own to put Thomas More on top 41-36 with 15:57 remaining.
- The Running Eagles scored the game's next six points to take their first lead of the second half, but again Rudy responded with a three-pointer to give the Saints a 44-42 lead with 13:50 to play.
- Life made a three, but Garren Bertsch (Alexandria, Ky./Campbell County) converted a three-point play after being fouled on a layup to put Thomas More up 47-45 with 10:21 left.
- With the Running Eagles leading by three points, Reid Jolly (Alexandria, Ky./Campbell County) was fouled on a layup of his own and converted the free throw to tie the game with 4:26 to go.
- A pair of Batte free throws with 3:42 remaining gave Thomas More its first lead in over four minutes at 59-57, but a layup by Life tied the score with 3:18 to play.
- Coming out of a timeout, Bertsch hit a three with the shot clock running out to put the Saints up 62-59 with 43 seconds left.
- With Life looking to tie the game, Jolly came up with a crucial steal on an inbounds pass with 22 seconds left and made two free throws to put the game out of reach at 64-59, and Rudy made another free throw with seven seconds remaining to make the final score 65-59.
- The Saints shot 10-of-24 (41.7 percent) from the field and 3-of-10 (30.0 percent) from three-point range.
- Batte scored eight second-half points and pulled in four rebounds.
- Rudy scored seven points in the second half.
- Thomas More improved to 23-6 overall and 10-5 in Mid-South Conference play, while Life fell to 11-17 overall and 2-13 in the conference.
- The Saints shot 23-of-51 (45.1 percent) from the field and 11-of-27 (40.7 percent) from three-point range but struggled from the line, making 8-of-14 (57.1 percent) attempts.
- Thomas More held its opponent to 60 points or fewer for the third straight game, and the fourth game out of its last five.
- Rudy led the Saints with 19 points while making 6-of-12 three-pointers.
- Batte scored 15 points and added six rebounds.
- Bertsch finished with 10 points and four assists.
- Jolly led the team with seven rebounds, adding five points.
- Knisley had six points, five assists, three steals, and three rebounds in his final game on the CCC floor.
- The Saints will close out the regular season on the road with a Mid-South contest at Cumberland University on Saturday (February 29) at 4 p.m.
