WORCESTER, Mass. – Graduate forward Gianni Thompson finished with a season-high 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting for Post University Men's Basketball, but the defending East Region champions in Assumption University would prove too much to handle, shooting 50% from the floor and 40% from three-point land, to overwhelm the Eagles on Wednesday night, 91-74. 

THE BASICS

Post University 74, RV Assumption University 91

Post University (1-2)

RV Assumption University (3-0)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Thompson had a breakout first half for the Eagles with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting, nailing all three of his three-point opportunities, but Post never led in the opening 20 minutes of the affair. Senior forward Baril Mawo opened things up with a three for the Greyhounds, sparking a 5-0 run, before Thompson and the Eagles responded with a 5-0 run of their own.

Besides at the opening tip, that would be the only time the game would be tied as Mawo's run-breaking three put Assumption back in front. The senior finished the first half having scored 11 points across 11 minutes with a 4-for-5 showing from the field with three three-pointers made. Sophomore forward Luke Michalski was equally as dominant with 10 points, draining all six of his free throw opportunities.

The Assumption lead would grow to as many as 17 points, 38-21, as turnovers plagued the Eagles to the tune of 15, which led to 15 points for the Greyhounds. Eight players would record baskets for Assumption, leading to a 24-1 margin in bench points as well. Outside of Thompson, no other Post player had more than two field goals made, but as a team, they would shoot 42.9% (12-for-28) from the floor and 40% (4-for-10) from long range.

A 50% shooting half for the Greyhounds would match the Eagles' efforts, going 15-for-30 overall and making 5-of-12 (41.7%) of their threes, while converting on 10-of-15 free throw tries. Assumption would all but match that first-half performance with a 50% second half, making 17-of-34 from the field and 5-of-13 threes to finish 40% (10-for-25) from beyond the arc, as well as 17-for-24 (70.8%) from the charity stripe.

Trailing by 16 with 17:42 remaining in regulation, Thompson would lead a 7-0 Eagles run that got them back to within nine points, 52-43, only two minutes later, before the Greyhounds pulled away for good. Leading by as many as 31 points with 5 1/2 minutes to go, nearly every Assumption player who touched the floor would finish scoring, led by sophomore guard Noah Payne's 16 points as well as 16 points from Michalski, who finished 10-for-10 from the free-throw line.

Most notably for the Greyhounds was their defense forcing 25 Post turnovers, resulting in 29 points, compared to 20 turnovers themselves for 17 Eagles points. Beyond Thompson, three other Post players finished in double figures with graduate forward Derrick Thomas II tallying 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, junior guard Ta'Quan Williams shooting 4-for-12 with 11 points, and junior guard Zion Lott finishing with 10 points on 4-for-11 shooting. 

In the 91-74 loss, Post still shot exceedingly well from the field, going 29-for-59 (49.2%) overall, including a 17-for-31 (54.8%) second half and a 9-for-22 (40.9%) three-point performance. The three biggest difference makers in the contest came from the charity stripe, in which Assumption was 17-for-24 (70.8%) compared to 7-for-9 (77.8%) for the Eagles, while also outrebounding them 39-27, and finishing with a 48-15 margin in bench points. Outside of Post's five starters, seven players for the Eagles combined for nine shot attempts. 
 
BY THE NUMBERS 

• Gianni Thompson finished with a season-high 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting for Post University while draining 4-of-5 shots from three-point range 
• In three games this season, Derrick Thomas II has shot 45.8% from the field, including above 50% in two of those three performances -- Thomas II had 16 points on 6-for-11 shooting in the loss with three rebounds after recording double-digit rebounds in the first two games
• So far this season, Post University has trailed by double-digit margins in both of its losses, falling to 0-2 when trailing at halftime while remaining 1-0 when leading at the break
• After Post University won four of the first five matchups against Assumption University between 2004 and 2009, the Greyhounds have taken four of the last five between 2015 and 2025, evening up the all-time series at five all

WHO'S NEXT
The five-game road trip to start the season for the Eagles continues on Sunday as they head to Sparkill, New York, to face St. Thomas Aquinas College at 3:00 PM. Post had their two-game winning streak in the all-time series snapped by the Spartans at home in a mid-November loss, 88-76, at home.