Jack Gibbs scored 35 points to lead Davidson (16-9; 8-6 A-10) to a 99-93 win over Saint Joseph's (22-5; 11-3) at Belk Arena, to give the Hawks their first road loss of the year and ruin the nation's only undefeated road record (9-1).
Isaiah Miles almost matched Gibbs with 32 on 12-for-18 shooting while DeAndre' Bembry had 19 points, with 17 in the second half, for Saint Joseph's (22-5; 11-3 A-10). Shavar Newkirk added 13 points and Aaron Brown scored 12.
After a frenetic scoring pace in the first half, which saw SJU own a 48-43 lead at halftime, the Hawks continued to hold onto the lead for most of the second half. They led by as much as six points although Davidson forced seven ties.
The Wildcats took the lead for good at 5:04 as they broke a 79-79 tie and Peyton Aldridge scored five straight points. Davidson ran the lead up to 91-83 on a pair of free throws by Nathan Ekwu.
A three-pointer by Papa Ndao and a basket by Bembry pulled the Hawks to within 91-88 with :37 left, but Oskar Michelsen hit a pair of free throws to give Davidson a 93-88 cushion. Bembry connected on a three to pull the Hawks within 93-91, but Ekwu made another pair of free throws and iced the game with 22 seconds to play.
Both teams shot over 50 percent from the field in the game but the Wildcats went 29-for-36 from the line, while SJU was just 10-of-16.
The teams combined for 26 points first four minutes and SJU had a 14-11 lead. The Hawks took their biggest lead of the half, 24-16, on a layup by Newkirk after a steal.
Miles had 13 points in the first seven minutes, giving SJU a 22-16 lead. The senior made his first five shots and finished with 19 points in the first half.
Gibbs matched Miles' shooting and helped the Wildcats tie the game, 30-30, on his fourth three-pointer of the half. Davidson took a brief 39-37 lead on another three by Gibbs but the Hawks answered right back as Newkirk converted a three-point play, 40-39. SJU would maintain the lead the rest of the half, taking a 48-43 edge into halftime.
Bembry, who played a season-low seven minutes in the first half after he was called for two fouls, scored six of the Hawks' eight points in a stretch that had them holding onto a 68-66 lead with over 10 minutes to play.
Davidson took its first lead of the second half, 72-71, on a pair of free throws by Aldridge at 8:34. Miles answered with a three-pointer to give the lead back to the Hawks, but Gibbs tied it again 74-74. Miles hit a jumper at 7:48 to push SJU ahead, 76-74, but it would be the Hawks' last lead of the game.
Saint Joseph's will play its second straight on the road on Wednesday, Feb. 24, when it heads to Massachusetts.
