Saint Joseph's stomped St. Bonaventure, 82-50, Tuesday night at sold-out and rocking Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse to complete an undefeated regular season, the first since UNLV accomplished the feat 13 years ago.

Three days removed from a hard-fought win at Rhode Island marked by dreadful shooting and a pitiful performance in the paint, the Hawks returned to form, knocking down 13 treys and effectively ending the game in the first half. Three players scored in double figures, SJU won the battle of the boards, 56-40, and the Hawks captured virtually every loose ball available.

Playing on Senior Night, Jameer Nelson closed his Fieldhouse career five points shy of Bernard Blunt's all-time Saint Joseph's scoring record. Nelson played his typically complete game, finishing with 25 points on 9-of-20 shooting, grabbing eight boards, and dishing six assists. The SJU student section teasingly booed head coach Phil Martelli for removing Nelson from the game before he had a chance to set the school record.

Chet Stachitas provided a big lift off the bench, hitting four 3-pointers and scoring 16 points. Delonte West added 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting. The role players also contributed, with John Bryant and Dwayne Jones crashing the boards hard, grabbing 18 caroms between them.

"I was pleased with the way we played the game -- not just the fact that we won the game, but the way we played the game," Martelli said. "We stayed true to what we've done all year. This is a group that deserves to be celebrated. They deserve to be honored."

The Bonnies played hard in the game's first quarter, but the outcome was never really in doubt. Patrick Lottin and Ahmad Smith each finished with 10 points, but needed 24 shots total to do it. Norristown's Marques Green, St. Bonaventure's talented guard, was limited to 9 points on 2-of-13 shooting.

Nelson, whose No. 14 was retired in a celebration following the game, said he wasn't aware that he was so close to Blunt's record when Martelli sat him down for the final time.

"I was trying to give the crowd a show. It was the first time I've ever done that in my life," said Nelson, stealing a grinning glance at Martelli. "And the last. . . . It would have been special, but it's going to come some day."

Next up is the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 Tournament in Dayton next Thursday. Martelli said he was looking forward to the down time to recharge mentally and work on the team's shortcomings.

"We're not great yet," he said flatly. "Five guys still don't always block out. We're going to face teams that are going to try to take our perimeter game away by being big and strong. We're going to have to screen better. And still our communication needs to be to a higher level. The best part about it is these guys will look forward to practicing on Thursday so that we can become great."

Nelson agreed that there's work yet to be done.

"This was special," he said. "This was one of the reasons I came back, for moments like this." Still, he acknowledged, "it means a lot, but we really haven't accomplished anything. We haven't won any championships."

The Hawks will get their chance in Dayton next week.