Second-seed Colonia used an 11-0 run at the start of the the second quarter to pull ahead of top-seed St. Thomas Aquinas nearly for good, en route to winning the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament top boys’ grouping.

They beat the Trojans 80-64 Friday night in North Edison, in a game heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio, powered by Bellamy & Son Paving, to win the Karl-Anthony Towns/Jay Williams Pod.

Senior guard Ruben Reyes scored a game-high and matched a career-high set earlier this year against Passaic with 25 points for Colonia (11-4), including 17 in the second half, and a 7-for-7 effort from the foul line.

Three other Patriots scored in double-figures, as senior do-it-all guard Jordan Derkack poured in 18, junior guard Saivon Pressley added 11, and Malik Kabia fouled out with ten.

Aquinas (9-5) was led by Tristian Jeffries, the senior who came back from an ankle injury Wednesday against South Brunswick to score 19 points. He had 20 Friday night in a losing cause.

With the defeat, St. Thomas Aquinas – which swept the GMC Tournament titles last season – was swept itself: by Colonia on the boys’ side and Monroe on the girls, while playing on their home floor.

Click below to listen to postgame reaction from Colonia’s win in the Towns/Williams pod final: