Sparkill, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College and Dominican University Men's Basketball teams renewed their rivalry on the hardwood Wednesday evening, as the teams met in the inaugural Doc Schelin Classic at Aquinas Hall Gymnasium.

The classic, named in honor and memory of former St. Thomas Aquinas College Dean of Student Affairs and professor of history and political science Dr. Robert C. Schelin, brought the college community, along with Doc's family, friends, colleagues and those alumni whom he mentored and guided through the years together to celebrate his life and legacy, and to enjoy the sport which he loved so much, basketball.

In addition, at halftime of the contest between the Spartans and Chargers, the Schelin Family announced the first recipient of the Robert "Doc" Schelin Award for Achievement. Jackie DiNuzzo (Class of '00, '09 MST), a former STAC Softball and Women's Basketball standout humbly accepted the award from Doc's daughter Leslie Heffernan and his wife Carol Schelin. DiNuzzo currently resides in Rockland County and is in her 19th year teaching Social Studies and 20th year coaching both basketball and softball in the North Rockland Central School District.

When the teams got down to business on the court, Dominican used a 53-point first half to cruise to a 90-73 win over St. Thomas Aquinas, snapping the hosts eight-game win streak.

STAC slips to 19-4 on the year, while Dominican improves to 16-8 on the season.

James Patterson led the way for the Spartans with a game-high 29 points to go along with 14 rebounds, while teammate Kyle Pulliam (11pts) also posted double figures in scoring.

STAC shot 33.8 percent (25-74) from the field, while Dominican shot 50.0 percent (33-66) from the floor.

STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Eight Spartans logged double-digit minutes in the contest.
• Rich Smith led the maroon and gold with four assists on the evening.
• James Patterson hit 9 of his 20 field goal attempts and went 8-for-10 from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Kyle Pulliam went 4-for-12 from the floor and 3-of-4 from the charity stripe.
• STAC out-rebounded Dominican by a 55-30 margin, with James Patterson grabbing a game-high 14 boards for the Spartans.
• St. Thomas Aquinas picked up eight steals, with the Chargers turning the ball over on 13 separate occasions.
• The Spartans earned advantages in two team statistical categories over Dominican: Second Chance Points (24-13) and Points in the Paint (36-28).
• The game featured five ties and two lead changes.
• STAC's largest lead of the contest came early in the first half, when the Spartans led by three points, 10-7 on a made three-point jumper by James Patterson.
• James Patterson led all scorers with 19 first half points for the Spartans, while also shooting 50.0 percent (6-for-12) from the field and 83.3 percent (5-for-6) from the free throw line.

DOMINICAN NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Nine Chargers logged double-digit minutes in the contest. 
• Seth Sharif-Brown led Dominican with 25 points, while teammates Joshua Serrano (19pts), Isiah Honis (16pts) and Jaden Honis (12pts) also scored in double digits.
• Sharif-Brown led DUNY with a four assists on the evening.
• Seth Sharif-Brown went 9-of-13 from the floor, with Joshua Serrano hitting 8 of his 13 field goal attempts.
• Sharif-Brown grabbed a team-high nine boards for the Chargers.
• Dominican picked up 11 steals, with the Spartans turning the ball over on 20 separate occasions.
• The Chargers earned advantages in three team statistical categories over St. Thomas Aquinas: Points off Turnovers (28-19), Fastbreak Points (20-8) and Bench Points (48-14).
• Dominican's largest lead of the contest came midway through the second half, when the Chargers led by 23 points, 70-47 on a made three-point jumper by Jaden Honis.
• Seth Sharif-Brown led the Chargers with 17 points in the opening half.
• Dominican shot a blistering 62.1 percent (18-of-29) from the field and a red-hot 62.5 percent (10-for-16) from three in the first half. 

UP NEXT:

STAC heads to Western New York for an ECC showdown with Daemen University on Friday, February 16. The Spartans and Wildcats get underway at 7:30 p.m. inside of Lumsden Gymnasium in Amherst, N.Y.