Staten Island, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Men's Basketball team returned to action on Friday evening at the College of Staten Island Tournament of Heroes, taking on Southern New Hampshire University at the CSI Sports and Recreation Center on Staten Island. A battle between East Region powers went down to the final minutes with the Spartans prevailing 81-76 over the Penmen.

STAC moves to 1-2 overall, while SNHU falls to 0-1.

Luis Risquez led the way for the Spartans, posting 15 points, while teammates Zion Ruckard (13 points), Hartnel Haye (12 points) and Deshawne Crim (12 points) also scored in double figures.

STAC shot 44.3 percent from the field (27-61) and 82.6 percent (19-23) from the free-throw line, while SNHU shot 46.3 percent (25-54) from the floor.

STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Nine Spartans logged double-digit minutes in the non-conference contest. 
• Luis Risquez and Zion Ruckard led the maroon and gold with three assists apiece on the evening.
• Risquez hit 7 of his 8 field goal attempts. Meanwhile, Hartnel Haye went 5-of-10 from the floor.
• STAC out-rebounded So. New Hampshire by a 32-27 margin, with Hartnel Haye grabbing a team-high eight boards for the Spartans.
• St. Thomas Aquinas picked up seven steals, with the Penmen turning the ball over on 19 separate occasions.
• The Spartans earned advantages in three team statistical categories over Southern New Hampshire: Point off Turnovers (23-20), Second Chance Points (19-9) and Bench Points (41-10).
• The game featured eight ties and eight lead changes.
• STAC's largest lead of the game came in the final six minutes of the contest, when Spartans led by seven points, 62-55 on a Hartnel Haye layup.
• St. Thomas Aquinas held a slim 35-34 advantage going into the halftime locker room.
• Deshawne Crim led the Spartans with 10 first half points.
• The maroon and gold had a stellar second half, shooting 50.0 percent (15-of-30) from the field, 44.4 percent (4-of-9) from behind the arc and 85.7 percent (12-of-14) from the charity stripe in the final 20 minutes of play.
• Deshawne Crim tallied 10 of his 12 points in the first half, while Zion Ruckard recorded 10 of his 13 points in the second half.

SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Seven Penmen logged double-digit minutes in the contest. 
• Paul Greene led So. New Hampshire with 19 points, while teammates Noah Harris (18 points), Ray Daniels (11 points), Kurtis Henderson (10 points) and Royce Williams (10 points) also posted double-digit point totals.
• Greene led SNHU with six assists on the night.
• Paul Green went 6-for-9 from the floor and 7-of-9 from the foul line, with Noah Harris hitting 5 of his 12 field goal attempts, and all five going in from distance.
• Green also grabbed a game-high 11 boards for the Penmen.
• Southern New Hampshire picked up six steals, with the Spartans turning the ball over on 14 separate occasions.
• SNHU earned advantages in two team statistical categories over St. Thomas Aquinas: Points in the Paint (32-28) and Fastbreak Points (8-2).
• So. New Hampshire had its largest lead in the game (four points, 29-25) with just over three minutes to play in the opening half.
• Ray Daniels led all scorers with 11 first half points for the Penmen, while shooting 62.5 percent (5-of-8) from the field.

UP NEXT:

STAC will have a quick turnaround, playing Southern Connecticut State University on day two of the College of Staten Island Tournament of Heroes, Sunday, November 10. The Spartans and Owls are set to tip-off at 3:00 p.m. inside of the CSI Sports and Recreation Center.