Colchester, Vt. - A memorable 2022-2024 season came to a close for the St. Thomas Aquinas College Men's Basketball team on Saturday, but the Spartans campaign was filled with many memorable moments, including another set of ECC Regular Season and Tournament titles, a trip to the big dance and many awards and accolades for both players and coaches alike, with more honors still to come.

In its ninth straight NCAA Division II Tournament, #2 STAC fell to #7 Post University University, 80-72 in the East Regional Quarterfinal round at the Vincent C. Ross Sports Center on the campus of top seed and hosts Saint Michael's College.

St. Thomas Aquinas closes its year with a 25-6 overall record and a 14-2 ECC Mark. Meanwhile Post improves to 21-9 (10-6 CACC) advances to Sunday's semifinal against #3 Southern New Hampshire University.

James Patterson paced the Spartans' offense in final contest of the season with 31 points, while teammate Kyle Pulliam added 18 points. Deng Deang led Post with 31 points, while Bol Akot (13 points), Harrison Warnock (10 points) and Kyle Alcy (10 points) also recorded double-digit point totals.

St. Thomas Aquinas shot 30.9 percent from the field (21-68), while Post shot 43.3 percent (29-67) from the floor.

STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Eight Spartans logged double-digit minutes in the contest.
• James Patterson and Rich Smith led the maroon and gold with three assists apiece on the afternoon.
• Patterson hit 8 of his 22 field goal attempts and was a perfect 14-of-14 from the foul line. Meanwhile, Kyle Pulliam went 5-for-21 from the floor and 4-of-8 from beyond the arc.
• Post out-rebounded STAC by a slim 47-45 margin, with James Patterson grabbing a game-high 12 boards for the Spartans.
• St. Thomas Aquinas picked up nine steals, with the Eagles turning the ball over on 14 separate occasions.
• The Spartans earned advantages in three team statistical categories over Post: Points off Turnovers (17-13), Second Chance Points (20-18) and Fastbreak Points (10-2).
• The game featured five ties and seven lead changes.
• STAC's largest lead of the contest came early in the middle of the first half, when the Spartans led by six points, 15-9 on a Kyle Pulliam made three-point basket.
• St. Thomas Aquinas trailed Post 35-30 at halftime and shot just 28.1 percent (9-for-32) from the field, but kept pace with the Eagles courtesy of 81.8 (9-of-11) shooting from the charity stripe.
• James Patterson led the Spartans with 13 points in the opening half.

POST NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• All nine Eagles who suited up for the contest logged double-digit minutes.
• Bol Akot led Post with three assists on the day.
• Deng Deang went 13-of-23 from the floor, with 4-of-7 sailing through the nets from long range. He also was 1-for-2 from the free throw line.
• Deang also grabbed a team-high 10 boards for the Eagles.
• Post picked up six steals, with the Spartans turning the ball over on nine separate occasions.
• The Eagles earned advantages in two team statistical categories over St. Thomas Aquinas: Points in the Paint (44-26) and Bench Points (13-12)
• Post's largest lead of the contest came with 9:22 remaining in regulation, when the Eagles led by 12 points, 61-49 on a pair a Deng Deang made layup.
• Deng Deang led all scorers with 16 first half points for the Eagles, while shooting 50.0 percent (7-of-14) from the floor and 50.0 percent (2-for-4) from three.
• Post outscored STAC 45-42 in the second half, to preserve their eight-point victory.