(CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.) – The Thomas More College men's basketball team defeated Franklin College, 89-84, in overtime today (Saturday, December 19, 2015) in a non-conference game at the Connor Convocation Center in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.

With the win, the Saints improve to 4-5 and with the loss, the Grizzlies fall to 1-8.

Franklin took an early 17-9 lead when John Beineke converted an old fashion three-point play with 13:20 to play in the first half.  Thomas More answered with a 27-13 run to take a 36-30 lead with 2:55 to play in the half when junior guard Sawyer Pauly (Crescent Springs, Ky./Covington Catholic) made a lay-up.  The Grizzlies closed out the half on a 10-3 run to take a 40-39 lead at halftime when Lucas Peters made a jumper at the buzzer.

Thomas More opened the second half 25-12 run to take a 64-52 lead when freshman guard Damion King (Winchester, Ky./George Rogers Clark) made two free-throw with 9:26 to play in the second half.  Franklin responded with a 19-3 run to build a 71-67 lead with 2:23 to play in regulation when Trae Washington made a lay-up.  Undaunted, the Saints closed out regulation on a 6-2 run capped by a three-pointer by sophomore guard Daniel Williams (Louisville, Ky./Jeffersonville) with 1:33 to play in regulation to force overtime at 73-73.

In overtime, the Saints out-scored Franklin, 16-11 as they won the game, 89-84.

King led five Saints in double-figure scoring with 18 points.  Joining him in double-figures was Williams with 17, Pauly with 16, junior forward/center Simon Clifford (Louisville, Ky./DuPont Manual) with 12 and freshman guard Brandon Horne (Louisville, Ky./Male) with 11.  Horne led the team on the boards with nine rebounds, while Williams led the team in assists with five.

The Saints are idle until December 30 when they host in-state rival Transylvania University at 2 p.m. at the Connor Convocation Center.