Men's Basketball Cruises Past the Bearcats in 2024 Finale

(CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.)-Thomas More University's men's basketball team defeated McKendree on Thursday afternoon (December 19), 90-65, to close out 2024. The Saints overall record improves to 8-3.

• Redshirt first year Jack McCune (Paducah, Ky./McCracken County) made a hook shot to start things off in the first half with 19:36 on the clock to put the Saints ahead 2-0.
• Senior Casey George (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North) hit a jump shot to put the Saints up 7-2 with 16:33 left  in the half.
• With 11:39 to play in the half, junior Mitchell Rylee (Ft. Mitchell, Ky./Covington Catholic) drove to the rim for a layup to make it a 15-12 game.
• Senior Wyatt Vieth (Hebron, Ky./St. Henry) drained a 3-point basket with 4:22 to play to put the Saints up eight (36-28).
• Jack McCune knocked in two free throws for the final points of the half to help the Saints lead 45-46 going into the locker room at the half.
• Jack McCune led with 16 points and had two rebounds.
• Wyatt Vieth led with four rebounds and had 11 points and two assists.
• Casey George tallied four assists to lead the Saints and had eight points and one rebound.
• The Saints were 53.3% (16-30) from the field, 37.5% (6-16) from the 3-point line, and 77.8% (7-9) from the free throw line in the first half.

• Jack McCune made a free throw to get things started in the second half with 19:21 on the clock (46-36).
• Wyatt Vieth knocked in a 3-point shot to extend the Saints lead to 57-40 with 15:16 to play.
• With 7:10 to play in the game, Jack McCune made a tip-in layup to make it a 24 point game (71-47).
• Mitchell Rylee made two free throws with 3:46 remaining to put the Saints up 84-58.
• Junior Ryan Paris (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) made two free throws for the final points of the game to secure the Saints 90-65 win over the Bearcats.
• Jack McCune led the second half with 17 points and five rebound and had one assist.
• Wyatt Vieth followed with nine points and two rebounds.
• Mitchell Rylee had three assists to lead in the second half and had six points and two rebounds.
• The Saints were 54.2% (13-24) from the field, 60% (6-10) from the 3-point line, and 76.5% (13-17) from the free throw line in the second half.

• Jack McCune had a career high 33 points and seven rebounds and tallied one assist and two blocks.
• Wyatt Vieth had a season high of 20 points and had six rebounds and two assists.
• Redshirt first year Kai Simpson led with eight rebounds and had eight points and two assists.
• Casey Geoerge recorded six assists for a team high and had eight points and six rebounds.
• Mitchell Rylee had eight points, three assists, three rebounds, and two blocks.
• The Saints were 53.7% (29-54) from the field, 46.2% (12-26) from the 3-point line, and 76.9% (20-26) from the free throw line.

The Saints return in January 2 against Walsh at 5:30 pm in the Connor Convocation Center.