Jalen Pickett connected on a late 3-pointer, but the Aquinas Li’l Irish fell to the Bishop Ludden Gaelic Knights (III), 55-53 in non-league action Monday night at the Wegman-Napier Athletic Complex.
Pickett’s three from the top of the key knotted the game at 53, but Bishop Ludden’s Mika Adams-Woods responded with :03 remaining for the game winner.
AQ’s Jason Hawkes led all scorers with 21 points including a trey at the buzzer to give the Li’l Irish a 27-24 lead going into the locker room at halftime. Hawkes, who followed a 20-point effort in a win over Williamsville-South (VI) last Thursday with a 14-point, 18-rebound performance on Saturday, hit eight of 12 shots from the floor including three of four behind the arc.
Pickett scored 12 points and handed out a game-high 10 assists. He led the Li’l Irish with seven rebounds.
Ludden’s Jai Smith came off the bench and grabbed a game-high nine caroms. The Gaelic Knights out rebounded Aquinas 29-23 including eight offensive rebounds which they converted into a 10-2 advantage in second-chance points.
Smith handed out a team-high six helpers.
Adams-Woods paced three Gaelic Knights in double figures with 14 points on five of nine shooting from the floor including two of five from long range. Ed Walser added 13 points also on five-of-nine shooting. Joe Connor had 12 points.
Aquinas led 17-4 after the first quarter.
Ruben Torres scored six points for Aquinas, and Anthony Flegler chipped in five.
Bishop Ludden, ranked ninth in the most recent NYS Class AA poll, improved to 18-1.
Aquinas fell to 11-5. The Li’l Irish had won two straight coming into the contest.
AQ hosts Bishop Timon (VI) Wednesday night.
BISHOP LUDDEN 55, AQUINAS 53
BISHOP LUDDEN (18-1)
Mika Adams-Woods 5-9 2-2 14; Ed Walser 5-9 3-4 13; Joe Connor 5-12 0-0 12;
Nic Button 2-5 0-0 6; Jai Smith 3-5 0-0 6; Sh’ikem Lee 2-4 0-0 4; Monte
Johnson 0-0 0-0 0; Keandre Sanders 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 22-47 5-6 55.
AQUINAS (11-5)
Jason Hawkes 8-12 2-3 21; Jalen Pickett 4-12 2-2 12; Ruben Torres 2-6 0-0 6;
Anthony Flegler 2-7 0-0 5; Graycen Carter 2-2 0-0 4; Luke Putnam 1-3 0-0 3;
Sincere Alston 1-3 0-0 2; Kidtrell Blocker 0-1 0-0 0; Eric Carter 0-0 0-0 0.
Totals 20-46 4-5 53.
Bishop Ludden…………….. 4 20 13 18 – 55
Aquinas………………….. 17 10 19 7 – 53
3-point goals–Bishop Ludden 6-16 (Nic Button 2-4; Joe Connor 2-5; Mika
Adams-Woods 2-5; Keandre Sanders 0-2), Aquinas 9-23 (Jason Hawkes 3-4; Jalen
Pickett 2-6; Ruben Torres 2-5; Anthony Flegler 1-5; Luke Putnam 1-3). Fouled
out–Bishop Ludden-None, Aquinas-None. Rebounds–Bishop Ludden 29 (Jai Smith
9), Aquinas 23 (Jalen Pickett 7). Assists–Bishop Ludden 12 (Jai Smith 6),
Aquinas 14 (Jalen Pickett 10). Total fouls–Bishop Ludden 8, Aquinas 7.
Technical fouls–Bishop Ludden-None, Aquinas-None. A-500
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