(Crestview Hills, KY) - The Thomas More men's basketball team took on the 13th ranked Findlay Oilers on Thursday (January, 9th). Thomas More fell to the Oilers by a final score of 69 to 58. Thomas More moves to 10-4 overall on the season and 5-2 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference play. Junior
Mitchell Rylee (Ft. Mitchell, KY / Covington Catholic) recorded a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Saints.
- Redshirt first year Zion Crowe (Springfield, OH / Shawnee) got the Saints on the scoreboard with an offensive rebound and put-back to put the Saints down three (2-5).
- With 14:58 to go in the game, Mitchell Rylee records his first points of the game with a layup off an assist from redshirt first year Kai Simpson (Lexington, KY / Fredrick Douglass) (7-10).
- Senior Casey George (Pickerington, OH / Pickerington North) and Zion Crowe score back to back buckets to putt the Saints within 1 with 13:04 to go in the half.
- A three pointer from redshirt first year Jack McCune (Paducah, KY / McCracken County) gives Thomas More their first lead of the game with the score at 14 to 12.
- With 7:55 to go in the half, senior Wyatt Vieth (Hebron, KY / Saint Henry) hits a three pointer off an assist from Kai Simpson to retake the lead for the Saints at 20 to 18.
- Kai Simpson records a driving layup, and Casey George converts on an and-one with 2:50 to go in the half to push the Saints in front by 7. (29-22)
- Casey George tallied a layup in in the closing seconds to send the Saints into the half with a 31 to 24 lead.
- Thomas More shot 12-30 (40%) from the field, 2-11 (18.2%) from three, and 5-6 (83.3%) from the free throw line for the half.
- Mitchell Rylee led the Saints in rebounds with 5 and recorded 7 points.
- Casey George added 7 points, 3 assists and 4 rebounds for the Saints.
- Mitchell Rylee recorded the first points of the second half for the Saints with a layup off an assist from Kai Simpson (33-29).
- Kai Simpson answers a Findlay three point play with a triple with 16:20 to go to make it 38 to 34.
- Findlay ties the game, and Jack McCune answers with a layup with 13:54 to go to put the Saints back in front.
- Thomas More knocks down some free throws and retakes a two point lead with 8:14 to go.
- With 3:51 to go, Zion Crowe makes a three pointer to cut back into the Findlay lead (52-59).
- Mitchell Rylee tallies a pair of layups down the stretch to make it a 65 to 58 game with 33 seconds to go.Â
- Thomas More falls by a final score of 69 to 58.
- Thomas More shot 20-55 (36.4%), 4-21 from three (19.0%), and 14-20 (70%) from the free throw line.
- Mitchell Rylee tallied a double-double with 13 points and a team high 11 rebounds.
- Kai Simpson recorded a team high 15 points to go with 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.
- Jack McCune finished in double figures with 10 points to go with 5 rebounds and an assist.
- Up next the Saints will host Ashland at the Connor Convocation Center on Saturday (January 11th). Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 PM.
