BARBOURVILLE, Ky. - 15th ranked St. Thomas (1-0) opened its 2016-17 season with an emphatic 92-68 win over Tennessee Wesleyan (0-1) at the NAIA Southeastern Challenge.  

The Challenge pits the top teams from The Sun Conference against the top teams from the Appalachian Athletic Conference.  Tennessee Wesleyan was ranked 19th in last year's final NAIA Division II Coaches Poll and received votes in the preseason 2016-17 poll.

Four Bobcats scored in double figures, two of whom also recorded double-doubles.  Raheem Bowman scored 23 points and pulled down 13 boards, while Michael Walker II posted a 14-point, 10-rebound performance.

Timothy Sada scored 19 points on six made three pointers, while Kristers Zeidaks added 14 points.  Mikon Hewitt also registered a double-digit output with his 13 assists.

STU outshot Tennessee Wesleyan 59% to 43% from the field and won the rebounding battle 41-28.  The Bobcats made a total of 10 three-pointers, including six by Sada and two by Armand Shoon.

The Bobcats controlled the game throughout the contest, punctuated by an enormous second half.  STU took a 42-32 lead into intermission, then outscored TWU 50-36 in the second half.

St. Thomas returns to action Friday night vs. Bluefield (Va.) as the NAIA Southeastern Challenge continues in Barbourville, Ky.