The Tommies made a statement on Sunday: they are here to play.
The St. Thomas men’s basketball team started off their season on Saturday against the University of King’s College Blue Devils. The Tommies won 85-70.
Will Barber was the high point man for the Tommies, netting 30 points in his first regular season game at St. Thomas. Thomas Watson led the way for the Blue Devils as he scored 27 points.
The next game was the real test. The Tommies took on the Mount Saint Vincent Mystics, a perennial power house in the ACAA.
STU struggled in the first half of the game. Barber was hoping to carry over momentum from his 30 point outing, but he got some early fouls which put him on the bench for the second quarter.
The Tommies were down 40-28 at the half, but coach Dwight Dickinson had faith his team.
“He said we had to win the first five minutes of the first, and commit to moving the ball more on offense,” said second-year post Ben Cripps, who had 20 points and 13 boards in the game. “The turning point was our hard work in winning the third quarter.”
The Tommies outscored the Mystics 25-10 in the quarter, which gave them the lead going into the final 10 minutes. The Tommies held on to win 75-70, with Bradley Hovey scoring 19 points, and Will Barber shaking off a scoreless first half to get 18 for the Tommies.
The team will have their work cut out for them in their next game on Nov. 15 against Holland College.
“We need to work on our overall offense, and continue having everyone playing their role in our success,” said Cripps.
