19 November, 2006
by Elliot Smilowitz
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1st |
2nd |
Final |
| Bucknell (0-3) |
24 |
29 |
53 |
| St. Joseph’s (3-0) |
37 |
26 |
63 |
| St. Joseph’s Fieldhouse – Philadelphia, PA |
Boxscore |
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In what’s become a theme this year, Bucknell lost a close game to a highly regarded team, dropping to 0-3 on the year with a 63-53 loss at St. Joseph’s. Poor shooting did the Bison in; Bucknell shot 38.5 percent from the field.
Ahmad Nivins had game highs of 15 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks to lead the Hawks. Pat Calathes and Rob Ferguson added 14 and 11 points respectively for St. Joe’s. Chris McNaughton led Bucknell with 14 points, and frontcourt-mate Darren Mastropaolo added 13 points and 5 boards. Bison starting guards Abe Badmus and John Griffin combined for 12 points on 4-for-17 shooting.
Bucknell scored the first 6 points of the game and held control for most of the low-scoring first half. The Hawks used an 8-0 run to take control. Jawan Carter’s three-pointer was the last made bucket of the first half and gave St. Joe’s a 13-point lead.
Just like the start of the game, the Bison scored 6 straight points to start the second half, drawing back close. The Hawks maintained a good working margin, until 6:59 where a John Griffin three-pointer ignited a 7-0 Bison run that made it a 4-point game. However, Bucknell would never get closer than that, as the Hawks held them off to the end.
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| Keys to the Game |
| Key sequence |
With 6:03 left in the first period, McNaughton dunked to give Bucknell a 21-19 lead, the final time Bucknell would lead. Garrett Williamson hit 2 free throws to tie it up. A Badmus turnover led to Calathes hitting a three-pointer. After another turnover, Griffin fouled Williamson taking a three-pointer. Williamson went to the line and hit all 3 free throws to give the Hawks a 6-point lead.
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| Key sign it was over |
After Griffin missed a three-pointer with 1:37 remaining in the game, McNaughton tipped it in to cut the score to 60-53 St. Joe’s. Bucknell fouled Ferguson, who missed the front end of a one-and-one. But Mastropaolo missed a lay-up, leading to Carter hitting 2 free throws with 50 seconds left to make it a 9-point game.
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| Key performance |
Williamson didn’t hit a field goal for the Hawks, but he scored 9 points from the free throw line, including 8 in the first half when St. Joe’s built a lead. Williamson added 4 assists.
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| Key statistic |
Bucknell shot 3-of-15 from beyond the arc. Bison shooters Griffin and Jason Vegotsky went 1-for-8 and 1-for-3 respectively.
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| Notes |
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Bucknell only attempted 2 free throws in the second half, and 13 all game. They hit 10.
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The Bison outrebounded St. Joe’s by a 30-23 margin.
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Bucknell had 10 bench points, 5 from Andrew Morrison. St. Joe’s got 6 points from their bench. Only 6 Hawks played more than 5 minutes in the game.
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Pat Flannery emptied the bench for the end of the game, giving freshmen George Medrano and Zach Evans their first career action.
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Bucknell’s difficult non-conference schedule continues Tuesday, when the Bison travel to Penn State.
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