18 November, 2006
by Ryan Rissmiller
|
1st |
2nd |
Final |
| Saint Joseph’s (2-0) |
44 |
32 |
81 |
| Lafayette (1-3) |
32 |
41 |
73 |
| Kirby Sports Center – Easton, PA |
Boxscore |
| Â |
| The Lafayette Leopards made a furious late rally but could not overcome St. Joseph’s, dropping their home opener 83-71 to the Hawks. Three players scored in double figures for Lafayette.
The game was close early on, with St. Joseph’s maintaining a modest lead. Late in the first half, the Hawks used a pair of 6-0 runs to go into halftime with a 12-point lead. They opened leads as wide as 17 points during the second half. Lafayette used a late 10-2 run to get close in the final moments, but maintained a two-possession lead the entire time.
Notwithstanding their late run, the Leopards were cold from the floor in the second half, shooting 46.9 percent from the floor including 2-of-11 from beyond the arc. Lafayette had gone 5-of-9 for three in the first half. On the other hand, St. Joe’s shot 9-of-17 from the three-point line, led by Jawan Carter’s 4 three-pointers.
Lafayette hits the road this week for games at UMBC and Miami, before returning to Easton next week for a showdown with Princeton. |
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| Keys to the Game |
| Key sequence |
Despite being down by double digits for most of the game, Lafayette forced 2 turnovers through full court pressing to go on a 6-0 run in 45 seconds to cut the lead to 76-68 with 1:23 to go. St Joe’s was able to run the clock and keep Lafayette at bay despite closing the gap again to 78-72 with 28 seconds to go. |
| Key sign it was over |
With a 6-point difference with 28 seconds to go, Lafayette was forced to foul Pat Calathes and he made good on both free throws to go up 80-73. There was not enough time for Lafayette to recover. After Marcus Harley missed a three, Calathes rebounded it, was fouled again, and hit 1 of 2 free throws. Lafayette attempted a few last-second prayers but none were answered.
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| Key performance |
The whole St Joe’s lineup: all had double digits except D.J. Rivera, but usual starter Garrett Williamson came off the bench with 11. Ahmad Nevins and Rob Ferguson led the hawks with 19 each and Carter was one shy with 18. Pat Calathes also had 10 points and 9 rebounds. |
| Key statistic |
Lafayette’s 2-fo-11 shooting from three-pointt range in the second half. A staple of their offense, they went cold and because of a lack of inside presence they hung all their hopes on the three point arc, which was unforgiving for the Leopards.
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| Notes |
| – |
Leopards starting forward Matt Betley was 4-of-4 in the first half and 2-of-2 from the arch with 11 points – his single game season high so far. His first missed field goal came with 18:50 to go in the 2nd half. He finished with 17. |
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| – |
Lafayette was once again dominated inside the paint, with St. Joe’s having their way with many uncontested lay-ups and easy shots. The Hawks outrebounded the Leopards 32-21. |
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| – |
Lafayette showed spurts of defense from their backcourt with 6 steals (11 total for the team) and they won the turnover battle 21-16, but could not convert many of those turnovers into points. |
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| – |
Asked about the strength of this St Joe’s team, Lafayette head coach Fran O’Hanlon praised them as being just as good as they were last year despite criticism. |
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