TIFTON, Ga. - Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College's Stallions galloped to the top of the Southern States Athletic Conference men's basketball standings Tuesday with an 83-75 victory over Thomas University.

The Stallions, 3-1 for the 2025-26 season, are 1-0 in SSAC conference play.

"It was very satisfying," said ABAC head coach Calvin Sinkfield after the big win. The Stallions have been battling injuries, but the team stepped up Tuesday for the victory.

One year removed from their first SSAC campaign - and one year after the basketball program was revived at ABAC - the Stallions already have half as many conference and overall victories as they did in 2024-25. Sinkfield's team went 2-16 in the SSAC a year ago, 6-20 overall.

Tuesday was also their first win over the Night Hawks in basketball. In 2024-25, they went 0-2, both losses by double-digits.

The Stallions hit a remarkable 32-of-63 field goals and were nearly 50% from distance, 8-of-17 from beyond the arc.

Four players finished in double figures in scoring, with Dontae Smith leading the charge at 18 points. Matthew Mairena scored a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists.

"We needed that," Sinkfield said. "We played with energy, we're playing together."

ABAC will host Florida College Thursday at 7 p.m. in a non-conference contest. They return to conference action Saturday at Gressette Gymnasium at 3 p.m. against a top-notch Dalton State team.

The Stallions held a slim 36-35 lead at halftime, thanks in part by a lane violation by Thomas' Eli Curry on the second of two free throws with 46 seconds remaining.

Thomas went up a point to start the second half, but the Stallions went back in front, 38-37, on a layup by DeAli Thompson.

Three minutes into the half, Tommie Hall nailed a jumper in the paint on an assist by Mairena and ABAC was up by six points. The lead extended to double-digits (50-39) at 14:14 on Chaste Appling's basket. 

The stunned Night Hawks closed the gap to six points on a few occasions, but every time ABAC had an answer.

With 1:15 left, Henry Rowe cleaned up an offensive rebound to apex the Stallions' advantage at 79-64.

Thomas had a late flurry and were down 79-73 at 0:43. Mairena drained two free throws with 36 seconds to go, as did Smith with 20 seconds remaining for the final margin.

Beyond Smith's 18 points, Mairena scored 15, Tommie Hall scored 13 and Thompson added 10.

Tyson Anderson's 17 led four Thomas players in double-digits.