SPARKILL, N.Y. -- The Pace men's basketball team earned a marquee non-conference road victory on Saturday as the Setters defeated the St. Thomas Aquinas Spartans, 79-77. All five starters scored in double figures, led by senior Brandon Powell (Middletown, N.Y./Pine Bush / FDU) with 20 points, three rebounds and two steals. The Spartans were previously unbeaten at home at 6-0 and were ranked No. 25 in the D2SIDA poll and No. 23 in the NABC Coaches Poll this week.

The win advances Pace to 9-3. 

In addition to Powell, junior guard Lyron Bennett (Boston, Mass./Tech Boston / Southern Connecticut State) added 13 points, six rebounds and seven assists. Senior forward Frankyn Batista (Barahona, Dominican Republic/Hyde / AIC) had 11 points and five rebounds and senior Bryan Powell (Middletown, N.Y./Canterbury School) added 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists. 

The Setters made a season-best 21 free throws, shooting 77.8 percent from the foul line. 

The game stayed tight from start to finish. With 4:46 remaining, Bennett made the second of two free throws to tie the game at 64. Two more free throws by Bennett put the Setters up 66-64 with 4:11 to go. The Spartans answered with two points from the foul line as well, knotting the game at 66. 

A layup by Bennett and a three from Jabari Nurse (Randolph, Mass./New Hampton Prep) put Pace up five, 71-66 with 3:10 on the clock as the race to the end of the game began. 

The Spartans and Setters traded two shots from the foul line once again as Pace maintained a small lead. A Bryan Powell (Middletown, N.Y./Canterbury School) foul led to two more free throws made by STAC's James Patterson, cutting the Pace lead to three, 73-70 at the two-minute mark. 

A Batista dunk electrified the Setters with 1:52 remaining, but, the Spartans answered with a three after a Setter turnover, as Pace led by one possession, 75-73.

With 24 seconds left, Brandon Powell (Middletown, N.Y./Pine Bush / FDU) delivered a three to put the Blue and Gold back up by two possessions but STAC scored both free throws as Pace fouled coming out of a 30-second timeout. 

Pace was fouled with 17 seconds left to play and Brandon Powell (Middletown, N.Y./Pine Bush / FDU) scored the second shot of two to go up 79-75.

The excitement continued as STAC's Jamison Devante snuck in a layup with 11 seconds left. Brandon Powell (Middletown, N.Y./Pine Bush / FDU) turned the ball over on the next possession, and STAC attempted a three off a 30-second timeout but missed as Pace grad guard/forward Adonis Williams (Spring Valley, N.Y./Brooks School / Adelphi) blocked it. 

Nurse missed two free throws as the buzzer was about to sound, but STAC did not get another shot attempt as the Setters won, 79-77. 

At the half, Pace led 42-41. 

A combined 42 free throws were made by both teams. 

Pace will be back in action on Monday, Dec. 19 as the Setters host Daemen at 6 p.m.