LAKE WALES, Fla. (February 27, 2021) - St. Thomas University (STU) Men's Basketball (14-11) fell at the buzzer against Keiser University (19-10) 72-71 in the Sun Conference Tournament Championship game on Saturday evening from the Tucker Athletic Center on campus at Warner University.

St. Thomas has advanced to the Sun Conference Tournament Championship in each of Head Coach D.P. Harris' two seasons at STU; however, St. Thomas has not claimed a Sun Conference tournament crown since the 2008-09 season. 

Bobcat Starters
Chris Whitaker - Guard
Justyn Rogers - Guard
Tyrik Waite - Guard
Jahsim Floyd - Forward 
Dwayne Russell - Forward

St. Thomas opened the game with the lead, as Waite made his first three-point attempt. Waite then impacted the defensive end, forcing a turnover with a steal and setting up a three-point shot from Whitaker. Sun Conference Second-Team member Floyd tallied his first steal of the Sun Conference title game and added a bucket moments later to give STU a 5-3 lead. Floyd then added his second make of the first half, maintaining the one possession lead for the Bobcats, 7-5. Keiser went on an 8-2 run, taking a 13-9 lead over the Bobcats, as Whitaker brought STU back within two, 13-11, with four consecutive points. 

As the first half approached the media timeout, KU and STU exchanged three-pointers, putting the score at 19-14 in favor of the Seahawks. Rogers recorded three consecutive points for the Bobcats, and Floyd added a make on a jump-shot to bring the score to 20-19. Russell, the First-Team All-Conference member for STU, took a Floyd block coast-to-coast, making a lay-up to tie the game, 22-22, and followed with a steal and a fastbreak dunk to reclaim the lead for STU, 24-22. Waite recorded his second three-point make in the first half to give STU a 27-24 lead with less than five minutes remaining in the first half. Waite's third three-pointer of the half gave St. Thomas a 32-28 advantage. KU closed the first half on an 8-0 run, following the Waite three-pointer, the Seahawks took a 36-32 lead into the halftime break.

Rogers and Russell made an immediate impact to open the second half, combining to score the first ten-points for the Bobcats. A block from Floyd and a turnover by the Seahawks set-up an and-one by Whitaker to bring STU back within two, 47-45. Christian DeJean tied the game at 49-49, making a lay-up following another Seahawk's turnover. 

Russell recorded ten consecutive points for STU, which brought the Bobcat advantage to 61-55 with 8:55 left in the title game. Keiser rallied for a 9-2 run, taking a 64-63 lead over STU. Dante Pace was subbed in for Waite and drilled a deep three-pointer to reclaim the lead for St. Thomas, as the Sun Conference title appeared within reach.

In the final moments of the title game, the Sun Conference foes traded baskets back-and-forth, as Whitaker tied the game at the free-throw line, 70-70. Keiser called a timeout and drew-up a three-point shot; the Seahawks missed but corralled the rebound and attempted a lay-up only to miss again as Waite grabbed the board. Waite found Rogers who, was fouled on his way to the basket and had a chance to put STU ahead with attempts from the charity stripe. Rogers's first attempt spun out of the rim, and the junior nailed the second, forcing KU to use another timeout down 71-70 with 12-seconds left. 

As time wound down and the score at 71-70, Keiser attempted a shot to win. The ball bounced on the rim, spun, and ultimately fell, with 1.9-seconds remaining in the game as KU took a 72-71 lead in the title game. 

The heart-wrenching final shot closed the book on the Bobcats shot at redeeming last season's title defeat, and St. Thomas was beaten in the Sun Conference title game for the second consecutive season, losing 72-71.

STU awaits the NAIA Selection Show to determine if the Bobcats continue the 2020-21 season.