Saint Vincent shot 53% from the field, with five players scoring in double figures, as the Bearcats defeated the Thomas More Saints 81-72 on Senior Day.
Saint Vincent started off hot, scoring early and often as they gained an 11-0 first half lead. Junior guard Jaylon Bell began the run, scoring on a fast break layup after an Austin Dedert block. Senior Sean Kett would drive to the lane on the next possession, sinking a layup, making the score 4-0 SVC. JC Howard drained a deep trey; followed by a Pat Jones jumper giving the Bearcats a quick 9-0 lead with 17:16 left in the first half.
Thomas More scored five straight points, which were answered as Jones hit a three of his own, making the score 14-5 SVC. Bobby Swartwout and Ben Klimchock found their way into the action, with Swartwout scoring on a layup followed by a Klimchock three and finger roll. Bell sunk a step-back jumper at the 11:09 mark, giving the Bearcats a 23-10 lead.
The Saints hit two consecutive threes, but couldn't gain momentum as Jones hit a pair of free throws and connected on a fast break layup giving SVC a 9-point lead. Dedert would later score four straight points for the Bearcats, while Jones scored on a monstrous dunk to close the first half, giving SVC a 36-26 lead heading into the locker room.
For Saint Vincent, Jones led all scorers with 11 points, while Drew Mays scored 8 first-half points to lead the Saints. SVC scored extremely efficiently, shooting 54% from the field and 43% from beyond the arc.
The second half was as exciting as the first, as SVC's offense fired on all cylinders with an extremely balanced attack. The Saints struck first and Bell quickly responded with a drive and a finger roll finish. Jones would drive to the basket on the next possession, hitting a layup to make the score 40-30 SVC. Howard would hit two free throws and Dedert would tip in a missed three attempt to extend the Bearcat lead to 14.
With 14:11 left in the game, Kett made a spectacular move under the basket, giving the Bearcats an 11-point lead. Austin Ford connected on two quick layups followed by a Howard jumper, making the score 61-43 SVC.
The Saints later went on an 11-0 run, cutting the Bearcat's lead to just six, but the run would end abruptly as Klimchock hit two straight treys to gain back a double-digit lead. Thomas More hit consecutive baskets, but Jones answered with a layup off a Kett assist. Kett and Klimchock would finish off the Saints, hitting two free throws apiece, giving the Bearcats an 81-72 victory on senior night.
Klimchock led Saint Vincent with 16 points followed by Jones with 15 and Howard with 13. Dedert added 11, while Bell tallied 10. The Bearcats shot a strong 53% from the field and 41% from outside the three-point arc. Dedert and Jones each had 7 rebounds.
Drew Mumford led the Saints with 16 points and 7 boards.
Saint Vincent finishes the regular season with a record of 19-6, 14-2 in the Presidents' Athletic Confernence, earning the #1 seed in the conference tournament. The Bearcats will host a game on Tuesday night (February 24) at 7PM in the Carey Center. SVC will face the winner of the #8 vs #9 play-in game between Washington & Jefferson and Westminster, which will take place Monday night.