Game Info: Saturday, February 22, 2025 - 12:30 p.m.
Location: Hagan Arena - Philadelphia, Pa.
TV: USA Network | Listen: sjuhawks.com | Live Stats: sjuhawks.com | Saint Joseph's Game Notes | Richmond Game Notes

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Twitter/X:@sjuhawks_mbb | Instagram:@sjuhawks_mbb


Opening Tip
The Saint Joseph's men's basketball team returns to Hagan Arena for the first of two in a row at home, facing the Richmond Spiders on February 22. Tipoff is set for 12:30 p.m. with the game on USA Network.

Countdown Update    
Erik Reynolds II's performance against George Washington on Wednesday moved him closer to the top of a pair St. Joe's program records. He needs 53 points to pass former National Player of the Year Jameer Nelson (2000-04) to become the all-time leading scorer in SJU history. Nelson netted 2,094 points in his Saint Joseph's career. The Temple Hills, Md. product finished the game against the Patriots with 327 three-pointers, leaving him 16 shy of Langston Galloway's (2011-14) program record.

Does Whatever A Spider Can    
Previously, it was noted how well Reynolds performed against George Washington in his career. Those numbers pale in comparison to what he has done against Richmond. In four career games against UR, the senior has averaged 25.6 points per game. Two of his career 30+ point games have come against the Spiders, on March 14, 2024 in the A-10 Tournament. He also tallied 33 against them on March 1, 2023. Overall, he is shooting 50 percent (35-of-70) against Richmond and is 17-of-19 from the line.

The Buck Stops Here    
Saint Joseph's has done a remarkable job this season making sure that a loss does not carry over to the next game. SJU is 9-1 this season in games following a setback. In the game following a loss, the Hawks are scoring 81.5 points per game while shooting 50.0 percent from the floor and 37.1 percent from three-point range. They are also holding the opposition to just 66.1 points per game and 39.1 percent shooting from the floor.

A New Name At The Top    
Rasheer Fleming has been known for his ability to make athletics plays, rebound the ball and dribble like a guard, despite a 6-9 frame. His three-point shooting is not to be overlooked, however. The junior from Camden is leading the A-10 from beyond the arc at 43.1 percent. It isn't a small sample size either as his 47 makes are 12th most in the conference and have already blown past his previous career-high of 35 from last season. He tied a personal best against GW with four treys, a feat he has accomplished two other times this season, against Charleston (12/10/24) and Loyola Chicago (1/11/25). He has been consistent as well, hitting better than 40 percent both at home and on the road.

Sub In    
The performance of the bench was a key factor in the Hawks win against George Washington. The trio of Derek Simpson, Dasear Haskins and Shawn Simmons II combined for 21 points, five rebounds, six assists, three steals and a block in 45 minutes of action. Coming into the game, SJU reserves averaged 13.0 points per game in conference play.

X Marks The Spot    
Xzayvier Brown has made some impressive strides in a short time with the Hawks. In just two years, he has 47 games in double figure scoring, including all 23 games he has played this season, accounting for 81.0 percent of his career contests. Those 23 games with 10 or more points this year are fourth among sophomores nationally.

The Big Three    
One look at their scoring averages makes it clear how important Erik Reynolds II, Rasheer Fleming and Xzayvier Brown are to the St. Joe's offense, but a bit of a deeper look reveals just how special the trio has been. Each of them has scored in double figures at least 42 times in their careers, making SJU the only school in the A-10 with three players who have at least 40 such games. At 103 games with 10+ points, Reynolds is one of two players in the conference to reach the feat 100 or more times.   

Scouting Report    
Richmond enters play 10-17 overall and is 5-9 in the A-10 following a 63-58 win at La Salle on Wednesday. After a 2-7 start to conference play, the Spiders are 3-2 in their last five league games.

Leading the offense for Richmond is Dusan Neskovic at 13.7 points per game, followed by Mikkel Tyne at 9.1. The Spiders have been hurt by the loss of DeLonnie Hunt, who has not played since January 8 and was averaging 16.8 points an outing. Mike Walz tops the squad in rebounding at 5.7 a night and has delivered 61 assists.

UR has done an excellent job this season of holding on to the ball, ranking in the top-50 nationally at 10.4 turnovers per game. It also makes its free throws when given the opportunity, topping the A-10 and sitting 13th in NCAA Division I at 77.8 percent.

Rebounding has been a major concern for the Spiders who are last in the Atlantic 10 and in the bottom-30 in the nation, pulling in 31.67 boards a game. They have also not taken advantage of their good free throw shooting, attempting just 18.0 shots a game at the stripe, 11th in the conference.

Chris Mooney is the dean of Atlantic 10 coaches as he works in his 20th season at the helm of Richmond. Wednesday against La Salle was his 400th overall career head coaching victory with a mark of 358-285 with the Spiders.  He has guided the team to the NCAA tournament on three occasions (2010, 2011 , 2022.)

All-Time Series    
Saturday is the 33rd all-time matchup between the Hawks and Spiders. SJU holds a 21-11 advantage and has won six of the last nine games The teams have met in the postseason four times, most recently last season.

Last Time Against Richmond    
The Hawks shot 64 percent in the second half as Saint Joseph's downed Richmond 66-61 in the Atlantic 10 quarterfinals on March 14, 2024. Erik Reynolds II led SJU with 30 points. Cameron Brown added 10. Rasheer Fleming pulled in a game-high 12 rebounds. A hot start to the second half saw Richmond take a 45-35 lead at the 11:27 mark, but a 12-2 St. Joe's run tied the game at 47-47 in a matter of four minutes. Trailing 53-49 with just more than four minutes remaining, SJU closed the game on a 17-8 run.

Up Next    
SJU remains at home for a midweek contest against Saint Bonaventure on Wednesday, February 26. Tipoff from Hagan Arena is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. with the game to be broadcast on ESPN+.