On day two of the Connor Classic the Golden Eagles were pitted against NCAA DII Thomas More University. The host Saints who moved up from NAIA this year, recently won their first game at the NCAA DII level and measured KSU Tusc by a score of 92-46.

The matchup was tough enough with a healthy lineup, but the navy and gold played their second straight game minus their leading scorer and rebounder. In case you don't know, there's a shortage of 21-point/11 rebound per game stat stuffers at every level so there isn't a spare on the Tusc bench.

Just as Lindsey Wilson started out against KSU Tusc, the Saints led off the game by sinking two triples as the Eagles played catchup with two-pointers to tie the game at 6-6. Kyle Shockley showcased a one-handed slam and followed that with a driving one-handed layup after a steal before things went south for the Golden Eagles.

Save for a Shockley pull up jumper at the elbow with 11:56 left in the opening half, the Eagles scored just one basket over a 7:30 period while TMU had their way on the court. They outgunned KSU Tusc 23-2 as they blazed their way to a 29-8 lead at the 8:31 mark of the first half.

Shockley ended the scoring drought with a sweet reverse layup with 8:05 left, but the deficit kept growing. With just over one minute remaining in the opening stanza, the Saints held a commanding 45-18 lead and cruised to a 47-22 halftime lead.

Things were even bleaker in the final half for the Eagles, as Thomas More built a 51-point 86-35 lead and coasted down the stretch. The winners shot 59% from the floor over the final 20 minutes while converting on 7/16 three-point shots. TMU's bench outscored KSU Tusc's 49-17 while holding the Eagles to just 2/15 shooting (13%) from behind the arc for the game.

Leading the way for the Golden Eagles for the second straight day was Kyle Shockley as the only player in double figures with 15. He also garnered seven rebounds. Mekhi Johnson scored nine and Ed Daniels added eight.

It's going to be a short week to regroup for KSU Tusc as they return home to prepare for another up-scheduled matchup. This time the go against NCAA DII Ashland University (2-0) at 1 p.m. in Kates Gymnasium in Ashland, OH, on Wednesday, November 21.

Kyle Shockley was presented a Coach Connor Award for Leadership, Integrity, Scholarship & Service and scored 15 points.