MORRISTOWN, N.J. — The Pratt Institute men's basketball team exploded for 49 second-half points to pull away for a 79-68 victory over Saint Elizabeth University in an Atlantic East Conference matchup on Wednesday night. Six different Cannoneers scored in double figures, led by a team-high 18 from first-year Kurt Thomas (Dallas, Texas).
Pratt (12-12, 4-9 Atlantic East) snapped a three-game skid and completed the season sweep of the Saint Elizabeth (7-17, 1-12 Atlantic East) to return to level .500.
The Cannoneers used a balanced attack and dominated the boards, holding a 43-25 rebounding advantage and outscored the Eagles in the paint, 42-18. Thomas Prendergast (Bayport, N.Y.) and Elijah Fermaint (Orlando, Fla.) both recorded double-doubles.
The first half was a competitive affair featuring four ties and six lead changes. An early 8-0 run powered by two quick baskets from Thomas built a 19-11 advantage. The yellow-and-black kept their distance, but couldn't extend to double-digits, and the Eagles clawed back to trail by just five, 30-25, heading into the locker room.
Both sides erupted for an offensive outburst in the second stanza as both combined for 92 points and 63 percent shooting – with Pratt finishing at a 71 percent clip. The hosts pulled within one on three separate occasions, but couldn't pull even or take the lead and Pratt couldn't pull away by more than seven until for most of the period until pulling away in the final minutes. Sebastian Roda (Greenwich, Conn.) came off the bench to score all 13 of his points in the second half, going 5-of-5 in the final 1:13 to seal the victory and finishing a perfect 7-of-7 from the stripe.
Thomas paced Pratt for the fourth straight game on an efficient 7-of-13 shooting. Prendergast logged a game-best +15 plus-minus and logged his third double-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds, four steals, and two assists.
Fermaint recorded his first collegiate double-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists. Mekhi Davis (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Thomas Graetz (Sydney, Australia) each chipped in 12 points, while Roda added 13 crucial points off the bench to round out the six in double figures.
The Eagles were led by a game-high 25 points from Johnathan Quiles. Alex Lorenzo added 10 points in the effort.
Pratt will close out the season at home on Saturday, Feb. 21, hosting Immaculata University on Alumni Day and Senior Day. Tip-off at the ARC is set for 1 p.m.
