DAYTON, OH (02/15/03) - For the first time all season the Saint Joseph's men's basketball team was beaten in a basketball game. Granted, the #25 Hawks entered the University pf Dayton Arena, the site of the 2003 Atlantic 10 Tournament with an 18-3 record, but the previous three losses were just that - losses. This time, SJU did not lose the game against the A-10 West Division co-leaders, it was beaten, 66-56.
"I told my players in the lockerroom, the better team won today," stated SJU head coach Phil Martelli. "We did not lose today, we were beaten by a good basketball team."
The Hawks looked tentative at the outset as Dayton's attacking defense kept the team off its rhythm. After trading baskets the first five minutes, UD went on a 21-6 run to open up a 27-13 lead with 5:30 to play in the half. The Hawks then closed out the half with a 9-3 run to go into the lockerroom trailing 30-22. The 22 points was five below SJU's previous season low (27 vs. Drexel) for a first half.
The second half was much the same as the first at the start. The Hawks looked out of sync on offense, missing their first four attempts to start the frame. Then, Dayton ran off eight unanswered points following the first media timeout to take its biggest lead, 42-26, with 13:51 remaining.
The Flyers kept the Hawks at bay, until sophomore Delonte West took it upon himself to put SJU back into the contest. West, arguably the hottest player in the nation over the last 12 days (29.2 ppg, 66.7 FG% over last three games), scored 13 straight points for the Hawks in a 13-4 SJU run to make the score, 52-45, with 4:36 left.
Two free throws by freshman Dwayne Lee, who came into the game with for an injured Jameer Nelson (bruised tailbone) at the 6:47 mark, cut the margin to five points, 52-47, with just over four minutes to play.
But that is as close as SJU would get as the Flyers went on a 7-1 run to build the margin back to double digits, 59-48, with 1:43 on the clock. West, who finished with a game-high 26 points, scored eight more points in the closing minutes, but Dayton hit enough from the line to provide head coach Oliver Purnell his 250th career win.
Nelson, who did return briefly to the lineup, finished with 16 points. However, the All-America point guard was held without an assist for the first time in his brilliant career as the team recorded a season low five assists on 18 baskets.
SJU, which falls to 18-4, 8-3 in A-10 play, also was held to a season low 32.1 percent from the field. The Hawks entered the game atop the conference in field goal accuracy, hitting 45.5 percent from the floor.
Dayton, which improved to 18-4, 10-1 in A-10 play, remains undefeated at the UD Arena this season with a 13-0 home record. Brooks Hall, who tallied 13 points, led the balanced Dayton attack which featured four double figure scorers.
