(CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.) - The Thomas More College men's basketball team fell, 71-68, to Wilmington College today (Friday, December 31, 2010) in the final game of 2010 at the Connor Convocation Center in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.

With the loss, the Saints fall to 6-5 overall and with the win, the Quakers improve to 4-8.

Thomas More took an early 10-4 lead when senior shooting guard Brian Muse (Bethel, Ohio/Bethel) made a three-pointer with 15:34 to play in the first half.  Wilmington answered with a 21-9 run to take a 25-19 lead with 5:14 to play in the opening half when Brandon Candella made a lay-up.  The Saints answered with a 6-0 run capped by a lay-up by junior center Colt Stafford (Groveport, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) with 3:12 to play in the half.  Wilmington closed out the half on a 7-5 run to take a 32-30 lead into halftime when Antonio Bowman made two free-throws with one-second to play in the half.

Wilmington opened the second half on a 21-11 run to take a 41-53 lead with 14:06 to play in the game when Bowman made a lay-up.  The Saints responded with a 19-7 run to tie the game at 60-60 when junior point guard Daniel Whelan (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Xavier) made a three-pointer with 2:57 to play in the game.  Wilmington would then close out the game on an 11-8 run for the final score of 68-71.

Three Saints finished in double-figure scoring as Stafford had 13 points, senior shooting guard Aaron Miller (Lexington, Ky./Henry Clay) finished with 12 and freshman guard Willis Fleming (Cincinnati, Ohio/Fairfield) finished with 11.  Miller led the team on the boards with seven rebounds, while Willis led the team in steals with five and freshman point guard Spencer Berlekamp (Cincinnati, Ohio/Kings) led the team in assists with 11.

Thomas More returns to action on Monday (January 3, 2011) when it travels to Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania to play Geneva College at 7:30 p.m.