Box Score RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Felician College junior forward Jeyvi Miavivululu (Paterson, N.J./Paterson Catholic) turned in game highs of 18 points and 11 rebounds, but his Golden Falcons were defeated by visiting St. Thomas Aquinas College, 68-58, in non-conference men's basketball action Sunday afternoon at Job Gymnasium.
Miavivululu posted his third "double-double" of the season and the 11th of his career. Classmate J.R. Pringley (Elizabeth, N.J./Linden) netted 17 points. Sophomore guard Chaz Watler (Brooklyn, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) totaled 17 points and seven rebounds for St. Thomas Aquinas (6-5), which has won its last four games.
Felician (0-11) trimmed an eight-point halftime deficit to 42-41 on a three-point field goal by freshman Marko Kozul (Astoria, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) with 12 minutes, four seconds, remaining in regulation time. STAC sophomore Aaron Cust (Uniondale, N.Y./Uniondale) answered with a three of his own, and for the next seven minutes of game time, the Spartan lead hovered between three and seven points.
STAC senior Marcus Henderson (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy) canned a three-pointer to put the visitors ahead, 56-50, at the 5:22 mark. Following a Felician offensive foul, Henderson assisted on another trifecta by freshman James Mitchell (Washington, D.C./St. John's College HS). Two free throws by Justin Reyes (Haverhill, Mass./Whittier Technology) put the Spartans in control, 61-50, and 3:09 remaining. The Golden Falcons never came back to within two possessions for the duration of the contest.
Henderson finished with 14 points and four assists and Reyes produced 13 points, eight rebounds and three steals in 25 minutes for STAC. Kozul came off the bench to tally 12 points for Felician, which committed 23 turnovers.
Points were scarce in the game's early stages. The Golden Falcons led, 8-1, after 4 ½ minutes, and were ahead, 16-10, mid-way through the opening period. With Felician still leading 20-17, consecutive baskets by Reyes touched a 14-0 Spartan run before STAC settled for a 31-23 halftime advantage.
Both teams begin the NCAA-mandated seven-day Division II dead period on Monday. Felician does not return to action until January 3, when it hosts Holy Family University in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest.
