News Release

CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. — In one of the biggest wins in the program's recent memory, the Thomas More men's basketball team defeated Maryville (TN), 94-81, behind 22 points from sophomore center R.K. Thurman and 21 points from sophomore guard Andrae Woodard. The Saints had six players in double-figures, the most ever under head coach Terry Connor as his team tied its win total from last year with a record of 7-10 while the Scots fell to 15-4.

The team's seven wins equals the mark of last season's squad who went 7-18 which was the most since the 1998-99 season when the Saints were 12-11. There are still eight games remaining on this year's schedule. More importantly, Thomas More has won four of its last five and has changed what was once a promising idea into an exciting reality.

In a game that featured 14 ties and 11 lead changes, Woodard's jumper with 9:44 remaining in the second half broke a 61-61 tie and gave the Saints the lead for good, 63-61. From there, Thomas More went on a 21-7 run over the next 6:44 in taking a 14-point lead, 82-68, while holding Maryville (TN) to just 2-of-8 from the floor. During that time, six different players scored for the Saints, led by five each from Woodard and sophomore guard Chris Thompson.

In Wednesday's loss to Rose-Hulman, the Saints committed a season-high 30 turnovers that led to 36 points for the Engineers as they were edged 36-18 in points off turnovers. Against Maryville, Thomas More held a 26-17 margin in points off turnovers.

The biggest difference in the game was seen in the rebounding column as the Saints out-rebounded the Scots, 41-24. In the second half, Thomas More held a 23-10 rebounding edge which resulted in a 13-3 advantage in second chance points. Junior forward Chad Wachs led the Saints with a game-high 10 rebounds while Thurman added seven. Thomas More also made 64.3-percent of its shots in the half, 60-percent for the game while connecting on 22-of-29 attempts from the free throw line.

Thompson scored 12 points for Thomas More and Wachs, junior guard Marcus Johnson and freshman guard Will Adams all had 10 points. In addition to his 21 points, Woodard had a nice all-around game with six rebounds, four assists and four steals and Wachs had five assists to go with his fifth career double-double.

Thomas More hosts Temple Baptist College from Cincinnati, OH next Saturday at 3:00 p.m. in Connor Convocation Center. The Rams, who are a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), are currently 10-7 this season and ranked No. 4 nationally as of Jan. 27.