By Zoebelle Bean, Aquinas Reporter
On Wednesday, Dec. 4, the Aquinas College Saints went head-to-head with the Rochester Christian University Warriors in men’s basketball and suffered a 67 – 69 loss. The game was long, with many disagreements between the referees and the coaches.
The first half started strong for Aquinas. Though Rochester initially gained on Aquinas, leading with 13 – 8 by the thirteen minute mark when a timeout was called, Aquinas bounced back. Aquinas player Kaleb Mitchelson, number 24, scored four free throws alone in the first period.
Michelson shooting for the Saints – Photo by Zoebelle Bean
After a quick lull where the referees had a short disagreement, they put the ball in the Warriors hands. However, they lost it by the buzzer and the Saints quickly scored three more successive baskets. This brought them ahead of the Warriors at 24 – 23. With two minutes left, the Saints scored two more shots, bringing them up to 33 – 32 by the end of the first half.
The second half started slow. It wasn’t until five minutes in when the Saints scored their first three-pointer. The Warriors managed to snatch a singular hoop-hanging shot halfway through, followed by several more successful free throws from the Saints’ Michelson.
With five minutes remaining in the game, a media timeout was called with the Saints at 60 and the Warriors at 58. It was a close game. It heated up as the one-minute mark neared. At 30 seconds left, the Saints were down by one point and did not want to surrender.
Junior Cheerleader Reign Lawson cheering on the Saints – Photo by Zoebelle Bean
The game was very nearly won by the end. Though Mitchelson initially tied the game with two seconds left with a secure 2-pointer, the referees took the points away since the ball was incorrectly placed, creating an outcry from the bleachers. Though Aquinas tied the game with eight seconds left, the Warriors hit a two-pointer in the last two seconds to take the lead off of a bank shot.
At the end of the game, with less than a second left on the timer, Mitchelson attempted to toss the ball from the opposite end of the court and secure the game, but the ball bounced off the backboard and the game ended 67 – 69 to the Warriors. Though the Saints lost, they were in it to win it until the very end.
The next home game for the men’s basketball team will be Thursday, Dec. 19, against Goshen College.
The Saint 