Sparkill, N.Y. - Despite Ethan Millirons sinking an almost half court shot as time expired in regulation to force overtime, the St. Thomas Aquinas College Men's Basketball team fell in the extra session to Post University, 109-107 on Saturday afternoon at Aquinas Hall Gym.

STAC slips to 2-1 on the season, while Post improves to 4-0.

James Patterson led the way for the Spartans, posting a game-high 41 points, while teammates Deshawne Crim (12pts), Jamal Barnes (11pts) and Vasilis Tolias (10pts) also recorded double-digit point totals.

STAC shot 42.5 percent from the field (34-80), while Post shot 49.3 percent (35-71) from the floor.

STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Eight Spartans recorded double-digit minutes in the contest. 
• Rich Smith led the maroon and gold with four assists on the afternoon.
• James Patterson made 13 of his 24 field goal attempts, hit 4-of-5 from beyond the arc and went 11-for-12 from the charity stripe.
• STAC out-rebounded Post by a slim 45-43 margin, with Patterson grabbing a team-high eight boards for the Spartans.
• St. Thomas Aquinas picked up 11 steals, with the Eagles turning the ball over on 19 separate occasions.
• The Spartans earned advantages in three team statistical categories over Post: Points off Turnovers (21-17), Second Chance Points (33-15) and Bench Points (40-14).
• The game featured 16 ties and 13 lead changes.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• STAC raced out to an early 11-2 advantage, as James Patterson, Kyle Pulliam and Jamal Barnes each knocked down shots right out of the gate.
• Up seven (17-10) on a Deshawn Crim layup, Post went on a 7-0 run to tie up the game at 17 all.
• Back-to-back threes by the Spartans and Eagles kept things even at 20-20, until a pair of layups by the visitors gave them their first lead of the contest at 24-20 with 11 minutes to play before the break.
• Seesaw action flipped the scoreboard on multiple occasions over the next four minutes, before a 9-0 Post streak gave them semi-comfortable ten-point advantage at 38-28.
• Despite a battle between the sides for most of the remainder of the stanza, STAC put together a 9-2 run of their over the final 2:30 to only trail by one, 51-50 at halftime.
• James Patterson led all scorers in the first half with 22 points for the Spartans, while Bol Akot picked up 17 points of his own for the visiting Eagles.
• When the teams returned to the court for second half action, STAC quickly tied the score and went ahead four straight points from Rich Smith and Jamal Barnes.
• Neither team could build a significant lead, with the sides matching each other shot for shot over the first nine minutes of play.
• Rich Smith's trey with eight and a half minutes left in regulation finally gave the Spartans some breathing room at 75-70.
• However, it would be short-lived as Post racked up the next eight points to take a 78-75 lead with 7:15 to play.
• Post would continue to try and pull away, but the Spartans kept attacking the basket to stay close on the scoreboard.
• Down six with just over a minute to play in the second half, a James Patterson layup cut the deficit to four (93-89). An Eagles free throw made it a five-point game, but a Kyle Pulliam jumper made it 94-91 with 26 seconds to play.
• Free throws by Post gave them a 97-93 advantage with 14 left on the clock.
• A foul by the visitors sent Deshawne Crim to the line, where he made two of two free throws to make it 97-95 with four seconds left.
• Post would then head to the foul line for two shots of their own. However, a miss and a make would only make it a one possession game at 98-95 with a hair over two seconds to play, setting up the shot of the game.
• An inbound would get right to the hands of Ethan Millirons who heaved up a prayer of a shot from a step over half court. The shot would swish through the net to tie the game at 98-98 and send the capacity crowd at Aquinas Hall into pandemonium.
• Once the celebration subsided and small groups fans were returned to their seats, it was time for overtime.
• When the extra session got underway, were able to score four points apiece, before a 4-0 Eagles run put the visitors up 106-102 with 42 seconds left to play in the first OT period.
• Deshawn Crim free throws cut the deficit to just two (106-104), but a Post free throw of their own made it a three-point game at 107-104.
• A James Patterson layup and free throw tied the game at 107 with just under 10 seconds left.
• Following a Post timeout, one final jumper by the Eagles gave them a two-point lead, 109-107 and they would hold on for the OT victory.

UP NEXT:

STAC will have a quick turnaround, playing Goldey-Beacom College on Sunday, November 19 (1:00 p.m.) at Aquinas Hall Gym in Sparkill.