SPARKILL, N.Y. (Jan. 13, 2011) - Sophomore Kayvon Roberts (Corona, N.Y.) posted a game-high 16 points to lead NYIT men's basketball to a 54-51 edging of St. Thomas Aquinas Thursday night in East Coast Conference action. With the win, the Bears improved to 6-6 on the season and 4-4 in league play. The Spartans dropped to 2-6 in ECC action and 2-11 overall.

 

Roberts also grabbed a team-best five rebounds. Junior Russell Holloway (Budd Lake, N.J.) added nine points and tied the team-best five boards.

 

The two teams exchanged baskets throughout the entire first half, with the score tied on five occasions. The largest lead NYIT was able to produce was was six-points, 19-13, on a layup from Roberts with 6:49 to play. However, STAC fought back to knot the score for a fifth time with less than three minutes to play. From there, the Spartans closed out the first half with an 8-1 run to lead 31-24.

 

The Bears opened the second half with seven straight points from Roberts and sophomore Dominic Scurry (Ozone Park, N.Y.) to equalize the game, 31-31. Roberts then put NYIT back on top with a layup at 15:33. However, the game was knotted up twice more and the Spartans regained control of the scoreboard with a jumper from Justin Brown and a free throw by Ian Stark (13 pts, 6 reb.), 39-37. Yet, seconds later, Holloway converted a traditional three-point play to put the Bears up for good. NYIT used the play to spark a 10-4 run that gave the Bears a seven-point advantage, 50-43, with 3:42 remaining. Although the Spartans continued to fight, the Bears held strong and a free throw from junior Jahari McKnight (El Sobrante, Calif.) brought the game to a close, 54-51.

 

NYIT returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 15 on the road at Queens College. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. in Flushing, N.Y.