THOMASVILLE – There is a popular basketball theory that places an emphasis on how a team finishes the first half and begins the second half as a key indicator for success. Anyone doubting that theory was not in the stands at Thomas University Saturday.
 
ABAC's Stallions fell short in their final game of the year, dropping an 86-73 decision to Thomas University's Nighthawks and the minutes just before and after halftime were indeed the key. The Nighthawks led 32-31 with 2:22 left in the first half before finishing on a 7-0 run for an eight-point lead at the break.
 
Thomas also came out hot to start the final 20 minutes, jumping out on a 14-3 run to go up 53-36 after the half's first five minutes. The home team would eventually grow that lead to 24 points before the Stallions rallied. Down 74-60 with 5:35 left, ABAC's Nate Mobley hit a pair of free throws before Xavier Boyd and Matthew Mairena both scored inside to cut the lead to eight points. But that was as close as they got before the Nighthawks finished them off.
 
Mairena led ABAC with 19 points and seven assists while Boyd added 14 points and Mobley had 12 to go with a team-high six rebounds. Depth was a key factor for Thomas, whose bench outscored ABAC 44-11. The Nighthawks' Noah Lattin led four players in double figures with 16 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
 
ABAC's first basketball season in 16 years concluded with a 6-20 record which included their first two Southern States Athletic Conference wins.