Harlem, N.Y. - A furious second half rally by the St. Thomas Aquinas College Men's Basketball team fell just short, as Lincoln University (PA) took a 70-65 decision on Saturday evening in the 2022 Harlem Renaissance Classic held at City College of New York.

STAC slips to 3-1 on the season, while Lincoln improves to 3-1.

James Patterson led the way for the Spartans, posting 27 points, while Antonio Vendola (17 points) also scored in double-figures.

STAC shot 42.1 percent from the field (24-57), while Lincoln shot 37.9 percent (22-58) from the floor.

STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Ten different players recorded double-digit minutes in the contest. 
• James Patterson led the Spartans with three assists on the day.
• Patterson made 8 of his 17 field goal attempts, while Antonio Vendola went 8-of-14 from the floor.
• STAC out rebounded Lincoln 39-38 through 40 minutes of action, with James Patterson posting a team-leading eight boards.
• St. Thomas Aquinas picked up seven steals in the contest, with Lincoln turning the ball over on 14 different occasions.
• The Spartans earned advantages in two team statistical categories over the Lions: Second Chance Points (14-11) and Points in the Paint (34-28).

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After a first minute, where both team possessed the basketball three times apiece, Lincoln broke out to a 5-0 advantage.
• STAC was then able to get its first points, trailing by only one at 5-4, before a Lions layup and a Spartans dunk by James Patterson made it 7-6 at the first media timeout.
• St. Thomas Aquinas would trade baskets with Lincoln to remain close on the scoreboard, trailing by only two (13-11) with a little over seven and a half minutes to play in the first stanza. 
• A 10-0 run by the visitors from the Keystone State made it 23-11, before STAC put up its next points via a pair of James Patterson free throws with 5:19 to play before the intermission.
• Each side put up 13 points in the final five minutes, as Lincoln headed to the halftime locker room up 36-24.
• James Patterson led the Spartans' offense with 11 first-half points, while Korey Williams led Lincoln with nine points.
• Following the break, Lincoln was able to maintain double-digit leads, before an Antonio Vendola layup and trey cut the STAC deficit to five points (44-39), forcing the Lions to call a timeout. 
• Vendola would again make another layup to make it a three-point margin at 44-41. The Lions would counter with a layup of of their own to go back up by five (46-44), before a Jamal Barnes three brought the scoreboard within two at 46-44 with just under 11 minutes to play in the game.
• An 8-0 run by the Lions expanded their lead back to 10 at 54-44 with seven minutes left.
• STAC made several attempts to rally in the final minutes of contest, getting within four points (64-60) with two minutes remaining in regulation, but Lincoln continued to respond with clutch shots and made free throws to keep themselves ahead at the final buzzer.

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