FORT WAYNE, IN-- UST men's basketball team saw its historic season come to a close in Fort Wayne, Indiana, falling 63-59 to Christopher Newport in the NCAA Elite Eight. The Celts capped off a record-setting year that included a 29-2 record. This the program's most consecutive wins at 26 win and its first-ever appearances in both the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight.
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St. Thomas opened the game with strong defensive energy, forcing early turnovers and converting on the other end as Charles Gitonga scored the game's first basket. The Celts found early rhythm inside, with Reyce Allen and Corey Thompson contributing in the paint to keep pace. Despite a brief surge from Christopher Newport midway through the half, St. Thomas continued to respond, using timely stops and second-chance opportunities to stay within striking distance.
Thompson provided a key spark late in the first half, scoring multiple baskets and getting to the free throw line to help the Celts take a narrow lead. St. Thomas maintained its poise down the stretch of the half, heading into the break tied 22-22 after trading buckets in the final minute.
Christopher Newport opened the second half with a three-pointer to take a 25-22 lead and gradually extended its advantage to 29-23. St. Thomas responded with a strong stretch, as Gitonga scored inside and Nathan Kongolo added a fastbreak finish to cut the deficit to 29-27. The Celts continued to answer each push, with Angel Johnson and Allen contributing key buckets to keep the margin within two possessions.
Midway through the half, Christopher Newport built its largest lead at 50-38, but St. Thomas refused to go away. Kongolo sparked the comeback with back-to-back three-pointers to trim the deficit to 52-44, and Thompson followed with a fastbreak layup to make it 54-46. Gitonga added another basket to cut it to 54-48, and after free throws, the Celts continued to close the gap down the stretch.
In the final minutes, St. Thomas made it a one-possession game multiple times. Gitonga converted at the line to bring the score to 56-55, and after another defensive stop, he added a layup to make it 58-57 with under a minute remaining. Following a Christopher Newport basket, Johnson answered with a driving layup to cut it to 60-59 with 43 seconds left. The Celts had chances in the closing seconds, but Christopher Newport converted free throws to extend the lead to 63-59. St. Thomas got one final opportunity, but a pair of late attempts would not fall as the comeback came up just short.
Charles Gitonga led the way with 14 points and four rebounds, shooting efficiently and delivering in key moments throughout the contest. Corey Thompson added 15 points and seven rebounds while facilitating the offense, and Reyce Allen contributed 13 points and six rebounds with a strong presence inside. Nathan Kongolo chipped in eight points, including two crucial three-pointers during the second-half comeback, while also adding five rebounds and defensive impact.
With the season now complete, St. Thomas closes the year after a deep postseason run in Fort Wayne. The Celts' journey showcased their growth, resilience, and ability to compete on the national stage, setting the tone for continued success moving forward.
