Men's Basketball Comes up Short to #20 Walsh

(NORTH CANTON, Ohio)-Thomas More University's men's basketball team fell to #20 Walsh on Thursday evening (Jan 29), 80-76. The Saints overall record falls to 10-9 and 4-8 in conference.

• Junior Carson Browne (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) drained a 3-point basket to get things started for the Saints to make it a 3-4 game with 18:30 on the clock.
• Redshirt sophomore Kai Simpson (Lexington, Ky./Frederick Douglass) drove to the rim for a layup with 15:10 to play in the half to give the Saints a 9-8 lead.
• With 9:09 to play in the half, first year Colin McClure (Columbus, Ohio/Dublin Coffman) knocked in two free throws to put the Saints up 20-19.
• Senior Mitchell Rylee (Ft. Mitchell, Ky./Covington Catholic) made a layup with 5:16 left in the half to extend the Saints lead to three (29-26).
• Sophomore Jashaun Pouncy (Erlanger, Ky./Cooper) laid a ball in for the Saints final basket of the half with 47 seconds to play (31-37).
• The Saints would trail 31-39 going into the locker room at the half.
• Kai Simpson led with eight points and had one rebound and one assist in the first half.
• Jashaun Pouncy also tallied eight points to lead the team.
• The Saints were 42.3% (11-26) from the field, 37.5% (3-8) from the 3-point line, and 66.7% (6-9) from the free throw line in the first half.

• Kai Simpson hit a 3-point basket to kick things off in the second half to put the Saints within five with 19:51 on the clock (34-39).
• With 16:28 on the clock, redshirt junior Colin McHale (Cincinnati, Ohio/Turpin) made a 3-point shot to make it a 40-43 game.
• Kai Simpson knocked in a step back shot to cut the Cavalier lead to 11 (49-60) with 11:39 to play.
• Colin McClure made two free throws to put the Saints withing six with 4:15 on the clock (63-69).
• Daniel Allen made a jump shot for the Saints final basket of the game for the Saints.
• The Saints would fall 80-76 to the Cavaliers.
• Kai Simpson recorded 18 points and three assists to lead the team in the second half.
• Colin McClure followed with nine points, two assists, and two rebounds.
• The Saints were 50% (15-30) from the field, 44.4% (8-18) from the 3-point line, and 77.8% (7-9) from the free throw line in the second half.

• Kai Simpson led the team with 26 points and four assists and had three rebounds.
• Colin McClure also tallied four assists to lead the team and had 13 points and two rebounds.
• The Saints were 46.4% (26-56) from the field, 42.3% (11-26) from the 3-point line, and 72.2% (13-18) from the free throw line.

The Saints return Saturday (Jan 31) in Painesville, Ohio against Lake Erie beginning at 3:00 pm ET.