WATERBURY, Conn. – A 73-point breakout second half for Post University Men's Basketball saw the Eagles overcome a 17-point deficit with 12:25 remaining in regulation behind graduate forward Derrick Thomas II's career-high 30 points on 12-for-23 shooting, as well as a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double put together by junior forward Deng Akok for a 99-92 Senior Day victory over Goldey-Beacom College on Saturday. 

With the win, Post clinched a spot in the CACC Tournament, but will still have work to do to try and secure a home playoff game as they currently sit fifth in the conference at 10-8 behind Caldwell University and Jefferson University, who both are 11-8 in conference play, while Goldey-Beacom is now 11-7. 

THE BASIC

Post University 99, Goldey-Beacom College 92

Post University (11-15, 10-9 CACC)

Goldey-Beacom College (17-9, 11-7 CACC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
It was an affair that only saw two lead changes and two ties throughout the entire first half before Goldey-Beacom pulled away for good in the second half. Opening up the game on an 8-2 run, sophomore guard Brian Blanchet accounted for half the points on that run before Post climbed back to within one point as Thomas II scored five of the first seven points in the game for the Eagles.

The first tie since the opening tip would come with 13:09 left in the first half after back-to-back baskets from junior forward Deng Akok and junior guard Zion Lott squared things up at 11 all. It would not take long, though, for Goldey-Beacom to answer back, scoring 10 of the next 13 points between the two teams, opening up their largest lead to that point in the game at seven points, 21-14.

The first and only lead of the half for the Eagles came with 7:33 remaining in the half after graduate guard Cape Holden and Thomas II capped off an 8-0 run that made it a 23-22 affair, before the Lightning answered back and took control of the rest of the half. Leading by eight points at the break, 34-26, junior forward Julian Williams had 13 points on 5-for-8 shooting, followed by eight from Blanchet in a 46.2% shooting half for Goldey-Beacom.

After starting the first half off with five points, Thomas II ended with a team-high 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting, nailing one of his three-point attempts, while junior guard Ta'Quan Williams lurked close behind at seven points on 2-for-8 shooting. However, as a team, Post struggled to find its rhythm, finishing 10-for-35 (28.6%) overall and 2-for-16 (12.5%) from three.

It looked as though Goldey-Beacom would run away with the game, still leading by 17 points, 59-42, with 12:25 to go, as Post had just 16 second-half points up to that moment, making it a 57-point barrage over that final impressive span. It started out simple with five free throws from Holden in five seconds after a Lightning technical foul and a foul on a three-point attempt. Still, sophomore guard Anthony Akande responded with a three that once again made it a 15-point lead, and even at the 10:26 mark, Goldey-Beacom still was in control by 14 points, 67-53.

That would be when the momentum shifted in Post's favor as Thomas II hit back-to-back shots, starting an 11-0 run for the Eagles that was finished with a three from Holden, turning a once 14-point deficit into only a three-point deficit in under three minutes of game time, 67-64. After pulling within two points, 68-66, on a Williams' basket, the Lightning lead grew once more to six points, 74-68, as Williams went to work recording the next six points of offense for Post to keep things close.

It would not be until 3:01 was left in regulation that the Eagles regained the lead as freshman guard Harry Scully drained a three as part of a 7-0 run by Post that ended up putting them in control for good. Firmly gaining control with the home crowd behind them, Akok's steal and slam, followed by a three-point play, put an exclamation point on the comeback victory for the Eagles, who ended up leading by as many as 10 points inside of a minute to go in the 99-92 win.

In addition to the big games from Thomas II and Akok, Williams also showed out with 21 points on 6-for-13 shooting, going 7-for-7 from the free-throw line with four rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Holden also finished in double figures with 16 points on 4-for-6 shooting, making 3-of-5 threes and all five free throws as part of a 24-for-26 (92.3%) day from the line for Post. 

Despite the loss, Goldey-Beacom's offense finished with Williams recording a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double as well as a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double from junior guard Emarquis Jones. The Lightning actually shot better from the field than Post, going 32-for-58 (55.2%) overall and 13-for-28 (46.4%) from three, while the Eagles were 34-for-71 (47.9%) and only 7-for-25 (28%) from three. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• Derrick Thomas II scored a career-high 30 points on 12-for-23 shooting for Post University after scoring a career-high 27 points last weekend at home against Wilmington University
• Three players between the two teams finished with double-doubles as Deng Akok had a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double, while Julian Williams finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds for Goldey-Beacom, along with 16 points and 10 rebounds for Emarquis Jones
• At halftime this season, Post University is 7-1 when leading at halftime, while being 4-13 when trailing and 0-1 when tied
• Scoring 73 points in the second half against Goldey-Beacom College, that mark is believed to be the most points in a single half that Post University has had in the history of the program

 
WHO'S NEXT
Post University closes the regular season with two road games, starting off against Dominican (N.Y.) on Wednesday night at 7:30 PM. The Eagles have taken down the Chargers in back-to-back games after losing the previous two before that between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.