Saints Quiet the Storm, Returns to G-MAC Semifinals

(CRESTVIEW HILLS, KY) - The #4 seed Thomas More Saints took on the #5 seed Lake Erie College Storm in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Tournament Quarterfinals on Tuesday (March, 4th). Thomas More defeated the Storm by a final score of 99 to 92, and advance to the conference semifinals for the second year in a row. Thomas More never trailed in the contest. Thomas More moves to an overall record of 18-10 on the season.

• Redshirt first year guard Kai Simpson (Lexington, KY / Fredrick Douglass) got the Saints started with two quick buckets, and a three pointer to put Thomas More up 7 to 0.
• Senior Casey George (Pickerington, OH / Pickerington North) and junior Mitchell Rylee (Fort Mitchell, KY / Covington Catholic) both make buckets before Kai Simpson knocks down another triple to cap the opening 14 to 0 run for the Saints.
• Senior Wyatt Vieth (Hebron, KY / St. Henry) hits a three pointer with 14:29 in the half to make it a 9 point lead for the Saints.
• Redshirt first year Jack McCune (Paducah, KY / McCracken County) makes a turnaround jumper to take us into the media timeout with the Saints in front 21 to 10.
• With 7:20 to go, Casey George and Mitchell Rylee make back to back buckets to push the Saint lead to 14.
• Junior Ryan Paris (Hilliard, OH / Hilliard Davidson) makes his first three pointer of the night to put the Saints in front 37 to 23.
• A Casey George bucket followed by a three pointer from George takes us to the final media timeout of the half up 42 to 25.
• Mitchell Rylee makes back to back buckets to continue the run, making the score 46 to 25.
• Thomas More takes the lead into the half by a score of 50 to 33.
• Thomas More shot 21-32 (65.6%) from the field, 5-10 (50%) from three, and 3-4 (75%) from the free throw line for the half.
• Casey George led the way with 15 points in the half to go with 3 assists.
• Mitchell Rylee tallied 13 points and 5 rebounds.
• Kai Simpson added 12 points in the half for the Saints.

• Casey George got the scoring started in the second half with a layup to make it a 19 point game.
• First year forward Tyler Johnson (Cincinnati, OH / Elder) scored in the paint on an assist from Mitchell Rylee to keep the lead at 19.
• With 16:15 to go, Casey George hits a three pointer to make it a 62 to 42 game.
• Ryan Paris hits a three pointer off an assist from Jack McCune to end a Lake Erie run and keeping the Saint lead at 8.
• Paris hits another three pointer with 10:16 to go, to push the Saint lead back to 11.
• A Mitchell Rylee dunk with 6:01 to go, followed by a Rylee layup puts the Saints up 80 to 72.
• Kai Simpson finds Mitchell Rylee for another dunk with 3:37 left, and Casey George scores on a fast break to make it a 14 point game.
• Thomas More took a 92 to 78 lead with 1:58 to go following free throws from Casey George.
• Thomas More makes their free throws to close the game and win 99 to 92.
• Casey George and Mitchell Rylee both led the team in second half scoring with 18 a piece.
• Wyatt Vieth posted a second half team high of 6 rebounds.
• Thomas More shot 35-59 (59.3%) from the field, 8-19 (42.1%) from three, and 21-28 (75%) from the free throw line for the game.

• Casey George led the Saints with 33 points. He tallied 5 rebounds and 4 assists in the contest.
• Mitchell Rylee score 31 points to go with 9 rebounds and 3 assists.
• Wyatt Vieth recorded a team high 11 rebounds in the game.
• Ryan Paris (10) and Kai Simpson (14) also finished in double figures.

• Thomas More returns toe G-MAC Tournament Semifinals for the second year in a row. They will take on the #8 seed Cedarville Yellow Jackets. That game will be played at Hillsdale College on Friday (March, 7th).