Second-Half Surge Lifts Aquinas Past Lawrence Tech, 58-55
| 1H | 2H | T | |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAW | 25 | 30 | 55 |
| AQU | 15 | 43 | 58 |
A late layup from Tjay Jones capped a furious second-half rally as Aquinas (Mich.) edged Lawrence Tech 58-55 in a nonconference matchup Wednesday night in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Trailing 54-53 in the closing minutes, Aquinas turned to its interior attack and defense to close out the game. Jones finished a drive with 44 seconds remaining to push the Saints’ lead to 58-54, providing just enough cushion after Lawrence Tech’s Lake McIntosh split a pair of free throws four seconds later to trim the margin to three. Aquinas then got the necessary stop on the final possession to complete a comeback from a 10-point halftime deficit.
Aquinas’ rally was powered by a dominant performance from forward Caden Pokorzynski, who posted game highs of 21 points and 13 rebounds. Pokorzynski went 9-of-16 from the field, hit two 3-pointers and added two blocks and two steals in 33 minutes. Guard Devon Boyd provided balance in the backcourt with 13 points and a game-high five assists while going 3-of-4 at the foul line, helping the Saints outscore Lawrence Tech 43-30 after the break.
Lawrence Tech controlled the first half behind hot perimeter shooting and a connected offensive effort. McIntosh buried four 3-pointers on his way to 17 points, sparking an early surge that pushed the Blue Devils in front 23-9 after his triple at the 3:45 mark of the first half. Lawrence Tech took a 25-15 lead into the locker room after McIntosh converted a late layup, capitalizing on crisp ball movement that led to 12 first-half field goals, including multiple makes from beyond the arc.
The Saints flipped the script after halftime with increased pressure on the perimeter and improved rebounding. Aquinas matched Lawrence Tech on the glass with 41 rebounds overall, including 13 on the offensive end, and converted extra chances into points as the game tightened. Pokorzynski ignited the comeback with a 3-pointer early in the second half to pull Aquinas within 43-41, then drilled another from the top of the arc at the 7:14 mark to give the Saints their first lead of the half at 46-45.
Lawrence Tech had answers throughout the second half, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Michael Afrakoff that immediately reclaimed a 48-46 edge less than 30 seconds after Pokorzynski’s go-ahead shot. Afrakoff finished with 12 points and four rebounds, knocking down two 3-pointers and going 4-of-4 at the line. Guard Davin Walker added 11 points, six rebounds and two assists in 36 minutes, giving the Blue Devils a reliable secondary scorer alongside McIntosh. Lawrence Tech finished 12-of-34 from 3-point range and assisted on 16 of its 18 field goals, but 15 turnovers proved costly in the second-half swing.
Aquinas’ defense tightened down the stretch, forcing 15 turnovers overall while recording eight steals and three blocks. The Saints also held a slight edge in overall shooting, going 21-of-58 (36.2 percent) from the field and 11-of-20 at the free-throw line, compared with Lawrence Tech’s 33.3 percent shooting and 7-of-16 mark at the stripe. Despite the loss, Lawrence Tech’s first-half execution and perimeter production showed its ability to build leads, while Aquinas showcased resilience and balance in erasing a double-digit deficit to secure the three-point victory.
