BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Graduate forward Derrick Thomas II's final season with Post University Men's Basketball continues to be the best of his career as he hit another career-high in points, dropping 22 against the University of Bridgeport in a 2025 CACC Championship Game rematch in which the Eagles prevailed, 75-68, on Wednesday night. Thomas II also had 10 rebounds, marking the second time this season in that he has had a double-double performance. 

THE BASICS

Post University 75, University of Bridgeport 68

Post University (2-5, 1-1 CACC)

University of Bridgeport (3-3, 1-1 CACC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Leading for the first time in five games at halftime, Thomas II continued his impressive final season with the Eagles, connecting on 4-of-6 shots from the field and 4-of-5 free throws to lead the way with 12 points, in addition to tying for the team lead in rebounds with five alongside junior forward Deng Akok.

Senior guard Tre Duncan also had a big start to the game with nine points, all of which came from long range, where he was 3-for-4. As it has been all season so far, Post's shooting was stellar again with a 51.6% first half that saw them hit 16-of-31 attempts overall and half of their threes, going 7-for-14.

Sophomore guard Gabe Charleston was perfect from the floor to open up the game for Bridgeport, going 3-for-3 to lead the team with seven points as 10 different players for the Purple Knights closed the first half with points. It was a tale of two halves for both sides as the first 10 minutes were owned by Bridgeport, who led by as many as five points, before Post answered back.

Giving Post its first lead since the early stages of the game, Duncan's three with 9:21 to go was part of a 7-0 run for the Eagles to give them the lead, which would balloon to as many as 10 points with 1:35 left in the first half on the final three-ball of the half for Duncan. Post would maintain an eight-point edge heading into halftime after junior forward Jaheem Tyson's layup made it 45-37.
 
Maintaining their lead throughout the first 10 minutes of the second half, it would not be until the 9:14 mark that Bridgeport would pull even at 57 after junior guard Zay Sullivan's three-point play capped off a 5-0 run for the Purple Knights. Another run, this time of four consecutive points, gave Bridgeport its first lead since 10:15 of the first half, 61-60, as both teams would go on to trade baskets back and forth down the stretch of regulation. 

Leading to five lead changes and three ties, Thomas II's jumper with 3:04 to go ended up starting the game-defining 8-0 run for the Eagles that put them ahead by six, 72-66, in part due to four points from junior guard Zion Lott, who closed with 11 points on the evening. Leading by six with under a minute remaining, Sullivan looked to give the Purple Knights on last gasp of hope, but a missed free throw by the junior opened the door for junior guard Ta'Quan Williams to get fouled on the other end, hitting 3-of-4 free throws he was awarded down the stretch to seal the door on the 75-68 win for Post, snapping their losing streak. 

BY THE NUMBERS 

• Derrick Thomas II finished with a career-high 22 points on 8-for-14 shooting in the win for Post University -- Thomas II ranks third on the team in points per game with 12.0 and is only two points in general from tying for the team lead in the category, and now has two double-doubles this year after snatching 10 rebounds
• Tre Duncan's 12-point game marks the third time this season in which he has reached double-digit scoring after only doing so in four games all of last season
• The definition of consistency so far for Post University's offense, Zion Lott, who is averaging 12.1 points per game, has eclipsed 10 points in six of the first seven games 
• At halftime this season, Post University is a perfect 2-0 when leading at halftime, while being 0-4 when trailing and 0-1 when tied 

WHO'S NEXT
Post University returns home for a Saturday matchup against Holy Family University, scheduled for 3:00 PM. The Eagles have won a program-record eight consecutive games against the Tigers dating back to the 2016-17 season.