Jan. 6, 2004

Box Score

Garden City, N.Y. - Senior Dwayne Thompson led a balanced Panther attack with a game-high 20 points as the Adelphi men's basketball team topped St. Thomas Aquinas 77-55 in conference play on Tuesday evening at Woodruff Hall. The Panthers improve to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the NYCAC. The Spartans, off to their best start since joining the league in 2000, drop to 5-4 overall and 4-3 in the NYCAC.

A total of four Adelphi players scored in double figures with senior Thomas McCormack collecting 16 points along with a game-high eight boards. Sophomore William Smith had 12 point and six rebounds and freshman Kimani Blaize chipped in 11 points and seven rebounds.

In an evenly played first half, both teams struggled from the field, each shooting about 34 percent. The Spartans held a 3-2 advantage at 18:36 and while they would tie twice over the next six minutes, this would prove to be their only lead of the contest. The Panthers rattled off 12 unanswered points to open a 23-11 lead with 8:14 remaining. McCormack led all players with 10 points in the first half. Adelphi's defense dominated the boards, outrebounding STAC, 24-15, while also forcing nine turnovers. The Panthers also excelled from the free-point line hitting 10-of-11. At the half, Adelphi led 37-21.

The second half proved to be much of the same with the Spartans unable to close the gap. Thompson, registered 16 points in the second half for the Panthers and would finish the game 11-for-12 from the charity stripe.

STAC was led by junior Daryl Boykins with 18 points and five rebounds. Junior Michael Rossmell added 12 points and four rebounds.

The Panthers return to conference action on Thursday, January 8, traveling to Queens College. Tip off is 7:30 p.m.