LAKELAND, Fla. (February 24, 2023)- The St. Thomas University (STU) Men's Basketball team defeat the Thomas University Nighthawks in commanding fashion in the Sun Conference Semifinals. The Bobcats will play the Fire of Southeastern University in the Sun Conference Final tomorrow night in Lakeland.
In the first possession for the Bobcats,
Milton Matthews received a pass from
Fred Mulbah and went on to drill a three in the first minute of the game. Getting a start like that really set STU up for the remainder of the game. About a minute later with the score still 3-0,
Justyn Rogers stole the ball away from the Nighthawks handing it off to
Fred Mulbah who assisted
D'Andre Johnson with one behind the arch this time. Almost another would go by with no scoring from each side, but
Justyn Rogers broke the silence hitting one of his own from behind the line 9-0 Bobcats.
Just when you thought maybe the Bobcats would slow down, but
Dalon Dean had to join the party with a three of his own. In the first four minutes of the game STU shutout the Nighthawks, and scored all their points from behind the arch. Thomas finally scored some points, but
Milton Matthews kept pouring it on with yet another from deep. With 12 minutes to go in the first half,
D'Andre Johnson started to catch fire. Johnson hit back to back three's just as Thomas started to gain some traction, along with getting fouled the next possession and making three at the free throw line. 29-11 STU.
Time would pass with some defensive basketball from both sides, but
Milton Matthews wasn't done in the first half yet and drained another three. STU went on a cold streak not scoring for about three minutes, but
Fred Mulbah was able to get to the line drawing the foul, and making both. Right after,
Milton Matthews once again received the ball from
Fred Mulbah and getting another to fall from behind the arch. The Nighthawks started to find a groove, but
Fred Mulbah made it 41-22 with one of his signature layups. Just as Thomas was about to get to within ten,
Milton Matthews stepped back and threw up another from deep. With one-minute remaining
Milton Matthews once again hit one from behind the line, and Matthews was feeling it. Seconds left on the clock in the first half, STU wasn't done yet as
Justyn Rogers hit a three of his own to take a 57-43 lead heading into the locker room.
After the Nighthawks scored twice to open up the second half,
Dalon Dean responded with another three to open the Bobcat scoring in the second half. Two minutes in, STU kept the momentum they gained in the first half, as
Fred Mulbah Kept it going by working his way to the paint hitting a jumper in the face of a Thomas defender. Half way through the second half the Bobcats allowed the Nighthawks to within single digits for the first time since the beginning of the game.
D'Andre Johnson broke the silence for STU by getting fouled and making one at the line.
Jordan Hernandez kept it raining from behind the arch with a three of his own to get the Bobcats back in their groove.
Milton Matthews made it 72-58 with guess what? That's right another three. Two minutes would pass, and
Fred Mulbah would break the silence once again driving to the net making an easy one off the board.
Two more minutes of some back and forth with no baskets from each side,
Milton Matthews was fouled, making both at the line. The Bobcats went on to keep their distance from the Nighthawks, and
D'Andre Johnson proved all year long he can shoot too, and made it 84-68 with another one from downtown. The remainder of the game the Bobcats would draw lots of fouls with the Nighthawks in desperation mode.
Dalon Dean gave STU 100 points with a deep three. After that the Bobcats just tried to run the clock out, and walked away with a 105-87 Sun Conference Semifinal victory.
Box Score Notables
Up Next
The Bobcats will face Southeastern in Lakeland, Fla. in the Sun Conference Finals.
-STU-
