PHILADELPHIA (12/21/02) -- The 2002 edition of the Saint Joseph's-DePaul rivalry wasn't as good as the 1981 NCAA Tournament shocker when the Hawks upended the then #1 Demons. But it was awfully good in its own right.
SJU used a 9-0 run with Jameer Nelson on the bench with four fouls midway through the second half to break away from visiting DePaul, 65-62, at the historic Palestra. With the victory, Saint Joseph's improves to 7-0 for the first time since 1964-65. The Blue Demons dropped to 5-2.
DePaul was up 48-42 when the All-American candidate went to the bench after picking up his fourth foul with 10:35 to go. But sophomore Delonte West, playing on a injured ankle, connected on a step-back jumper at the 9:33 mark. Freshman center Dwyane Jones, who played 22 minutes and along with sophomore John Bryant (nine rebounds) was praised by head coach Phil Martelli, made two free-throws to cut the lead to just two.
Then West, guarded by his high school teammate and namesake, Delonte Holland, canned a three-pointer at the 8:26 mark to send the Palestra crowd of 6,118 into a frenzy. The jumper gave the Hawks a 49-48 lead, their first since 14:04 in the first half. It was a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
DePaul cut the lead to one several times in the frantic closing minutes, including 55-54 at the 4:58 mark. But Nelson, despite playing with four fouls, scored eight of the last ten Hawk points to seal the victory.
Nelson did leave the door open for DePaul, who cut the lead to 65-62 with just 15 seconds to go as Drake Diener made a NBA range three. The point guard was fouled and missed both free throws, but found redemption as his steal at midcourt with nine seconds to go iced the win.
Saint Joseph's did show signs of rust from the 12-day layoff due to final examinations. "It's the hardest game to prepare for," Martelli said. "The kids put a lot of effort into exams and being 18, 19-years old, they want to get home for Christmas." Nelson admitted to fatigue in the early going, but found a second wind down the stretch.
The numbers didn't lie either, as SJU shot a frigid 25% from the floor in the first and allowed the Demons to shoot 54%. The Hawks looked like the nation's number two defense statistically in the second half, holding the visitors to 33% from the floor.
SJU was aided by a 11-of-12 performance from the charity stripe in the first half climbing back from a 13-point deficit with 2:38 to go in the first. All but a West three came from the line, turning a 31-18 DePaul lead intoa 31-28 margin at the half.
Nelson led the Hawks with 21 points, mostly from the foul line, as he shot 12-15 from the charity stripe. West shot 7-of-14 from the field on his way to 19 points, while sophomore Pat Caroll chipped in with ten.
Holland and Quemont Greer paced DePaul with 15 points.
Saint Joseph's travels out west to face Pacific on Saturday, December 28. Game time is 10:30 p.m. EST.
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