By: Tyler Smith '18

(FRANKLIN, Ind.) - Thomas More College wrapped up the first half of the season and the 2016 year as today (Saturday, December 31, 2016) it took on Franklin College in a non-conference game. The Saints came out victorious as they won 97-93.

The Saints shot 51.5 percent from the field as they made 34-of-66 shots from the field and added 20 points from the charity stripe. Thomas More had eight players reach the scoring column and were led by sophomore guard Damion King (Winchester, Ky./George Rogers Clark), who led all scorers with 27 points and also added seven rebounds and six assists. Two other Saints reached double-digits in scoring as sophomore guard Ryne Callahan (Morehead, Ky./Warren County) and junior center Simon Clifford (Louisville, Ky./DuPont Manual) both finished with 24 points. 

King, who led the team to the road win stated, "We all played together as a team today and when we do that we have something special and can achieve huge things.  Overall it was a very good road win heading into the second half of conference play."

Franklin also finished the game with eight players reaching the scoring column. John Beineke finished with 21, Aaron Mann added 19, while Brett McCory and Robbie Prather both finished with 17.

Catching up with Coach Drew Cooper after the game he told us, "We were glad this was a road game because it is our last non-conference game and hopefully this win will help us continue to build our confidence on the road as we continue our conference play."

The Saints will kick off the second half of the season and 2017 on Tuesday (January 3) when they travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to play Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) foe Chatham University at 8 p.m.