Hot-shooting Lawrence Tech pulls away from Aquinas, 102-77, behind Thompson’s seven 3s

Lawrence Tech University turned a tight first half into a decisive home win Wednesday, erupting after the break to defeat Aquinas College 102-77 at Don Ridler Fieldhouse. The Blue Devils outscored the Saints 62-42 in the second half, with Damien Thompson’s prolific perimeter shooting and a balanced offensive attack powering the runaway victory.

In a game played under a two-half format, Aquinas held a 40-35 edge late in the first half before Lawrence Tech seized momentum for good. Thompson drilled a 3-pointer with three seconds left before halftime to send the Blue Devils into the locker room up 40-35. He then opened the second half with another 3 at the 19:03 mark, stretching the lead to 44-35 and igniting a dominant stretch that Aquinas never answered.

Lawrence Tech’s offense was efficient across the board, shooting 55.7% from the field (34-for-61) and 45.9% from 3-point range (17-for-37). Thompson led all scorers with 24 points on 8-for-10 shooting, including 7-for-9 from beyond the arc and a perfect trip to the free throw line. Vuk Zarubica added 18 points on 8-for-11 shooting with one 3-pointer, while the Blue Devils’ ball movement produced 23 assists on 34 made field goals.

The Blue Devils methodically built their advantage after the early second-half surge. With the lead swelling, Davin Walker knocked down a 3-pointer at the 4:36 mark to make it 91-65, effectively putting the game out of reach. Lawrence Tech cracked the 100-point mark in the closing minutes when Luka Uzelac finished a dunk with 2:05 remaining, pushing the margin to 102-74 and capping the Blue Devils’ high-scoring performance.

Lawrence Tech also controlled the glass and disrupted Aquinas defensively. The Blue Devils held a 28-22 rebounding edge and came up with nine steals while forcing 13 Saints turnovers. Walker contributed on both ends with 11 points, a team-high eight rebounds, four assists and four steals, helping anchor a defense that limited Aquinas to 46.4% shooting overall and just 16 3-point attempts.

Aquinas stayed competitive early behind strong efforts from its backcourt. Caden Pokorzynsji paced the Saints with 20 points, shooting 5-for-9 from the field, 3-for-5 from 3-point range and 7-for-11 at the line, while adding six rebounds and four assists. Devon Boyd finished with 16 points on 6-for-11 shooting and hit his lone 3-point attempt, but the Saints’ 11 assists and seven steals could not match Lawrence Tech’s overall efficiency and depth.

With the victory, the Blue Devils showcased a potent combination of perimeter shooting, unselfish offense and active defense on their home floor. Thompson’s timely 3-pointers around halftime provided the decisive swing, and Lawrence Tech’s second-half surge turned a close contest into a comfortable win as the Blue Devils continue to build momentum in February.