(FRANKFORT, Ky.)-Thomas More University's men's basketball team defeated Kentucky State on Tuesday evening (November 26), 74-71, in their first road contest of the season. The Saints overall record improves to 4-1.
- Junior Ryan Paris (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) drained a 3-point basket to get things started in the first half with 19:50 on the clock to put the Saints up 3-0.
- Redshirt first year Kai Simpson (Lexington, Ky./Fredrick Douglass) made a driving layup to extend the Saints lead to 12-4 with 15:25 left in the first half.
- With 10:24 to play in the half, redshirt first year Zion Crowe (Springfield, Ohio/Shawnee) made his first collegiate basket with a layup to make it a 18-10 game.
- Senior Wyatt Vieth (Hebron, Ky./St. Henry) knocked in two free throws to put the Saints up 30-27 with 3:32 left in the half.
- First year Jashaun Pouncy (Erlanger, Ky./Cooper) made a layup for the Saints final basket of the first half (34-29).
- The Saints led 34-32 going into the locker room at the half.
- Kai Simpson led with 10 points and had two rebounds.
- Zion Crowe followed with seven points and one assist.
- Junior Mitchell Rylee (Ft. Mitchell, Ky./Covington Catholic) led with three rebounds and three assists in the first half.
- The Saints were 54.2% (13-24) from the field, 36.4% (4-11) from the 3-point line, and 10% (4-4) from the free throw line in the first half.
- Jack McCune kicked things off in the second half, driving to the rim for a layup with 19:27 on the clock to put the Saints up 36-32.
- Ryan Paris made a driving layup to tie things up at 44-44 with 13:39 to play.
- With 8:34 to play, Jashaun Pouncy laid in a layup to make it a 55-52 game.
- Zion Crowe recorded his second dunk of the night with 6:04 to play in the game to out the Saints up by seven (59-52).
- Senior Casey George (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North) made one free throw with two seconds on the clock to secure the Saints win over the Thorobreds (74-71).
- Mitchell Rylee led the Saints in the second half with 11 points and four rebounds and had one assist.
- Kai Simpson tallied four rebounds to lead the team and had three points and two assists.
- Casey George recorded a team high of three assists and had seven points and two rebounds.
- Jashaun Pouncy also had three assists to lead the team and had two points and two rebounds.
- The Saints were 69.6% (16-23) from the field, 33.3% (1-3) from the 3-point line, and 53.8% (7-13) from the free throw line in the second half.
- Kai Simpson led with 13 points and had six rebounds and two assists.
- Casey George followed with 12 points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
- Zion Crowe tallied 11 points and one assist.
- Mitchell Rylee had a team high of seven rebounds and four assists and put up 11 points and had two blocks.
- Jashaun Pouncy also had a team high of four assists and finished the night with four points and four rebounds.
- The Saints were 61.7% (29-47) from the field, 35.7% (5-14) from the 3-point line, and 64.7% (11-17) from the free throw line.
The Saints return next Thursday (December 5) against Lake Erie in their conference opener at 7:30 pm in the Connor Convocation Center.
