Sparkill, N.Y. - Jamal Barnes' three-point jumper with less than ten seconds left in regulation time, sent the St. Thomas Aquinas College Men's Basketball team to a 72-70 come-from-behind victory over Daemen University on Friday night at Aquinas Hall.

STAC improves to 8-1 and 3-0 in the ECC, while Daemen falls to 3-5 and 0-3.

DeVante Jamison led the way for the Spartans, recording 23 points, while Antonio Vendola (11 points) also scored in double-figures.

STAC shot 45.8 percent from the field (27-59) and 47.1 percent from three (8-17), while Daemen shot 50.9 percent (27-53) from the floor and 52.4 percent from behind the arc (11-21).

STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Ten different Spartans recorded double-digit minutes in the contest. 
• DeVante Jamison led STAC with six assists on the evening.
• Jamison made 7 of his 12 field goal attempts, with four coming from three, while Antonio Vendola went 5-of-11 from the floor.
• STAC out rebounded Daemen 31-29 through 40 minutes of action, with Vendola posting a team-high five boards for the maroon and gold.
• St. Thomas Aquinas picked up nine steals in the contest, with Daemen turning the ball over on 18 separate occasions.
• The Spartans earned advantages in three team statistical categories over the Wildcats: Points off of Turnovers (14-10), Second Chance Points (10-8) and Bench Points (22-9)
• The game featured 10 ties and 12 lead changes.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• STAC opened the scoring with six of the first eight points via buckets by Antonio Vendola, DeVante Jamison and Jordan green to take a 6-2 lead.
• A 7-0 run then put Daemen ahead at 9-6, but DeVante Jamison's jumper cut the deficit to just one (9-8) at the first media timeout. 
• See-saw action between the squads, saw the scoreboard flip on multiple occasions over the next seven minutes culminating in an 18-18 stalemate.
• A mini 5-0 run by the visitors was quickly erased, and again the back and forth action resulted in several lead changes and ties between the sides.
• James Patterson and DeVante Jamison combined to provide the final 10 points of the half for the maroon and gold, allowing the hosts to hold a slim two-point advantage (38-36) at the break.
• DeVante Jamison paced the Spartans offense with nine first-half points, while Nick MacDonald posted 14 points for the Wildcats.
• Following the intermission, Daemen powered its way to a 41-39 lead, scoring five of the first six points of the new stanza.
• The scoreboard would remain close for a bulk of the middle portion of the half, with neither side taking more than a three-point lead.
• Tied at 50-50, the Wildcats pushed the pace of play and were able to go on a 16-6 streak to lead by 10, 66-56.
• However, the Spartans chipped away at the deficit, as James Patterson (2 pts), Antonio Vendola (6 pts) and DeVante Jamison (7 pts) provided the offensive spark necessary to formulate a rally and, along with defensive stops, turnovers and missed shots by Daemen, put STAC only down one (70-69) with a 30 seconds to play.
• The stage was set for a comeback of epic proportions. Following a Daemen timeout, the Wildcats turned over the basketball, which allowed STAC to call a timeout of their own and talk strategy to either tie up or win the game.
• With the final instructions given by Head Coach Matt Capell, the Spartans emerged from the timeout huddle ready to inbound the basketball.
• DeVante Jamison would inbound the ball and quickly get it back, looking to score himself. However, not seeing an opening, Jamison was able to find a wide open Jamal Barnes in front of the Spartans bench, who launched a three-pointer which sailed through the net, giving STAC a 72-70 lead with a little over seven seconds left in regulation.
• One final chance by Daemen to win the game at the last second would clang off of the rim, giving St. Thomas Aquinas College an exciting two-point victory.

UP NEXT:

STAC returns to action on Sunday, December 11 against D'Youville University, with opening tip between the Spartans and Saints set for 3:00 p.m. at Aquinas Hall.