Flushing, N.Y. - Four Queens College players reached double figures in scoring in a 97-92, overtime loss to St. Thomas Aquinas on Wednesday from Fitzgerald Gym.  Jeremiah Mordi and Diego Maldonado each scored 25 points, while Paul Little finished with a dozen and Anthony Hodges scored 14 in a reserve role.

Perhaps the biggest points of the night from Little came from a three-pointer he hit from the top of the key with 0:02 on the clock to tie game at 74-all and force overtime.  There were other superlatives in the contest as well.

The game took on the depth of a championship prizefight, as both sides jockeyed for position and had moments to shine.  The Knights dominated the first half, despite going into the locker room even at 39-39.  Maldonado, we set a new career mark with the 25 points, came out hotter than a desert rock in June, scoring 14 of Queens first 18 points, including 11 points in a row.  He shot 9-13 in the game, including 6-10 from the three-point line.

The hot shooting for the Knights culminated with a three-pointer from Hodges at 8:45, that gave them their first double-digit lead of the game, 33-22.  The Spartans answered from there with all the gusto of a heavyweight champion, using the final eight-and-a-half minutes to erase the entire deficit and go into the half all square at 39-39.

The second half had neither side take a commanding lead, as the largest lead from STAC came at 8:39, but a Mordi three-point-play and a Maldonado trifecta tied the game at 60-60.  This lead to STAC taking a 74-71 lead at the end of regulation, when Little tied the game with his clutch three-pointer.

St. Thomas Aquinas took control of the overtime, taking advantage of some Queens foul trouble.  They eventually pulled away and beat the Knights, 97-92. 

The 25 points from Maldonado were a new career high, breaking his old mark of 14 points at Adelphi, earlier this season.  Queens shot nearly 57% from the field and over 53% from the three-point line.