Top Ten matchup on tap Thursday night as No. 1 Colonia hosts No. 7 St. Thomas Aquinas

The first game was a double-overtime thriller that saw Colonia double up St. Thomas Aquinas in the decisive second overtime.

What will the next one bring?

There have been some great games in the last half-decade plus between the Patriots and Trojans, and much of the same is likely Thursday night when No. 1 Colonia (13-1, 7-0 GMC Red, 1st place) hosts No. 7 St. Thomas Aquinas (9-4, 5-3 GMC Red, 6th place) in a huge, later-season game which can be heard live on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

It tips off at 7 pm, with pregame starting at 6:45 with Mike Pavlichko and Vin Ebenau. Click here to listen.

The Patriots will be the top seed in the GMC Tournament this winter, clinching it if they can beat Aquinas Thursday night, having already beaten second place Piscataway – both their division losses – twice this season. They’ve won ten in a row since suffering their only loss of the season, 53-47 to Westfield in the opener of their own LeGrand Holiday Jubilee round-robin tournament.

Junior Aiden Derkack – the only double-figure scorer returning – is doing his thing, leading the team in scoring at 24 points per game, along with rebounds (7.8 per game), blocks (13) and steals (34).

But new threats have emerged as well after the graduation of key players. Junior RJ Wortman is at 11.9 points per game, while freshman Jayce Rodriguez gives the Pats a three-point threat; he’s hit 25 triples to lead Colonia.

St. Thomas Aquinas has successfully tuned out the noise and distractions surrounding the eight-game NJSIAA suspension served by Austin Whitehurst for improper contact with a player from another school. Whitehurst remains sidelined while the school works out other issues with the NJSIAA, but believes he could return later this year.

With assistant Victor Verdecia, the Trojans have done well, winning five straight before a 76-72 setback Tuesday at Piscataway, whose coach Bob Turco left Aquinas after last season. Returning senior Aiden Ur leads the charge with 15.3 points per game, second on the team with triples with 14. Junior Dan Jennings – a transfer in the off-season from St. Joseph-Metuchen, who didn’t have to sit because it was his first transfer – is averaging a hair under 10 points per game, with a team-best 17 treys.

Click below to hear previews of Thursday’s game with both head coaches: