CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. (Feb. 15) – Thomas More used an early second half run to pull away and defeat the Saint Vincent men's basketball team 87-78 in Presidents' Athletic Conference play in Kentucky.
 
The loss snapped the Bearcats eight-game winning streak against Thomas More. Tonight's result also moves both teams to 14-3 in PAC play and gives them both identical 18-6 overall records.
 
Both teams got off to a fast start offensively, trading baskets throughout the first half. After Thomas More opened with a made three-pointer, SVC countered back with six straight points, which included a three by Jason Capco and a fastbreak layup and free throw from Matt D'Amico. The host Saints used five straight points to take an 8-6 advantage.
 
Three-pointers by D'Amico and Mike Simmons on back-to-back possessions gave SVC a 16-14 edge with 13:59 left in the first half. Thomas More would then use an 8-0 run to take a 22-16 lead over the Bearcats. Malique McLaren helped stopped the run with a three-pointer in front of a D'Amico layup to cut the deficit to 22-21 with 11:12 remaining in the half.
 
Thomas More would continue to build the lead for the remainder of the half, stretching the advantage to as many as eight points (36-28) at the 5:51 mark. The lead was eight again after three successful free throws for the Saints, building the advantage to 42-34 at the 3:43 mark.
 
A layup by Tom Kromka and a pair of free throws from D'Amico cut the deficit in half (42-38) with 2:31 left in the opening half of play. On the ensuing possession, Austin Ford converted a three-point play in front of a Kromka layup that cut the TMC lead to just a single-point (44-43) with 1:43 left in the half. The teams then traded points in the final minute to give the host Saints a 46-45 lead at halftime.
 
Both teams shot the ball well in the first half, as each totaled 17 field goals, including five three-pointers apiece. Saint Vincent converted 68 percent of its field goals in the first half, making 17-of-25 field goals. Thomas More made just 53.1 percent from the field but added 10 offensive rebounds to outscore SVC 10-0 on second chance points.
 
Kromka and D'Amico each tallied 10 points in the first half. Damion King led all scorers with 14 points after 20 minutes of play.
 
Both teams continued their torrid shooting in the early parts of the second half. The Bearcats tied the game (56-56) at the 15:47 mark when Simmons connected on another three-pointer.
 
Thomas More countered right back with seven straight points, which was part of a 16-4 run to build a 72-60 lead with 9:53 to play.
 
That is when Saint Vincent's defense locked down, holding the Saints without a field goal for more than five minutes. During that time, the Bearcats used an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to 72-68 with 5:55 left. Kromka, Ford, Dedert and Patterson each made a basket during the run.
 
From there the Bearcats would continue to battle down the stretch but could not come all the way back, eventually falling 87-78.
 
D'Amico led SVC with 16 points while also chipping in five assists. Kromka added in 14 points, while Ford tallied 11 points. Capco dished out a team-best six assists.
 
King, the reigning PAC Player of the Week, recorded 20 points, 9 assists and 7 rebounds in the win for TMC.
 
With Saint Vincent and Thomas More locked into a virtual tie in the PAC standings, the teams both close out the regular season this Saturday, Feb. 18. The Bearcats travel to Westminster College for a 3:30 p.m. tip-off in New Wilmington.