Flushing, N.Y. - Coming in with playoff  hopes still alive, the Queens College men's basketball team fell to St. Thomas Aquinas on Wednesday night in Fitzgerald Gym, 77-70, and put their post season in jeopardy.  

Amir Tarif scored a game-high 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting, while Patrick Parker netted 16 on 7-of-10 shooting. Jeremiah Mordi chipped in 10 points as well.

The Knights built a 34-25 lead with 0:46 remaining in the first half after an Amir Tarif layup. After, a second Taif basket, the Knights led, 36-29 with 15 seconds remaining in the half. After a technical foul on Jeremiah Mordi, the Spartans were able to connect on a pair of foul shots and also converted on a three-point play with a Chaz Watler layup, diminishing the Knights halftime lead to 36-34.

The Spartans came out on fire in the second half, scoring the first seven points.  Those seven were part of a larger, 16-2 run, which dated back to late in the first half. Queens showed some moxie, however, getting the deficit down to just two points, 44-42, on a pair of Tarif foul shots with 12:51 left. It would be as close as the Knights would get before the Spartans answered on a quick 7-0 run, including a three-pointers from Jonathan McNair and Aaron Cust.

The Queens College Men's Basketball team will look to bounce back in their next East Coast Conference meeting as they host Mercy on Monday, February 17. Tipoff if scheduled for 7:30pm.