SAN ANTONIO, TX--  St. Thomas men's basketball team earned a statement win on the road, defeating No. 5 Mary Washington, 64–55, at the Leslie Robinson Classic in San Antonio. The Eagles entered the matchup undefeated, but the Celts controlled the game down the stretch to improve to 8–1 overall.

Mary Washington jumped out to an early lead in the first half, going up 20–14, but the Celts responded with steady offense and defensive pressure. A three-pointer from Corey Thompson and a free throw by Reyce Allen helped UST chip away, tying the game at 24 with three minutes remaining. Thompson followed with a jumper in the paint to give the Celts a 30–24 advantage. Mary Washington answered with a three of their own, but a layup by Charles Gitonga in the final moments of the half sent UST into the break leading 32–27.

St. Thomas carried that momentum into the second half, extending the lead to double digits at 49–39. The Celts' defense held strong, limiting Mary Washington's scoring opportunities as UST continued to maintain control. With five minutes remaining, the Celts held a 53–43 lead. Mary Washington made a late push to cut the deficit to seven, but a dunk by Reyce Allen sparked the momentum back in UST's favor. The Celts closed out the game at the free-throw line to secure the 64–55 victory.

Corey Thompson led the Celts with 16 points, shooting 5-of-10 from the field and a perfect 3-of-3 at the free-throw line. Reyce Allen added 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting while contributing two assists. Angel Johnson finished with 11 points, knocking down 9-of-10 free throws and adding two assists.

Up Next

UST continues play at the Leslie Robinson Classic on day two, taking on Marietta College tomorrow at 5 PM in San Antonio. Game details and updates will be available at ustcelts.com, and fans can follow along on Instagram at @ustmbasketball.