The 35th annual Atlantic 10 tournament continues with a semi-final matchup between St. Joseph and Dayton. Reporting live from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ, Pickin’ Splinters is court side bringing you scores, stats, analysis, and insights. We might even get a quote or two from players or coaches.
Grab a seat on the Pine for the day. Come early. Stay late. Check back often. Make sure to hit your refresh button.
#12 St. Josephs (4-12/10-21) vs. #9 Dayton (7-9/ 20-12)
During the regular season Dayton won in their only meeting this year, winning 65-59 on January 12th.
In Atlantic 10 tournament history, the teams have met 4 times – with Dayton owning a 3-1 record in those games.
PROBABLE STARTERS – St. Joseph
F‐ #32 Idris Hilliard
F‐ #24 Daryus Quarles
F‐ #13 Ronald Roberts
G‐ #35 Carl Jones
G‐ #10 Langston Galloway
PROBABLE STARTERS – Dayton
G- #3 Juwan Staten Fr.
F- #4 Chris Johnson Jr.
G -#22 Paul Williams Jr.
F- #33 Chris Wright Sr.
F- #44 Josh Benson Rs-So.
TEAM STATISTICS SJU OPP
SCORING 2068 2237
Points per game 64.6 69.9
Scoring margin -5.3 –
FIELD GOALS-ATT 724-1744 789-1805
Field goal pct . .4 1 5 . 4 3 7
3 POINT FG-ATT 198-607 217-590
3-point FG pct . 3 2 6 . 3 6 8
3-pt FG made per game 6.2 6.8
FREE THROWS-ATT 422-594 442-625
Free throw pct . 7 1 0 . 7 0 7
F-Throws made per game 13.2 13.8
REBOUNDS 1037 1170
Rebounds per game 32.4 36.6
Rebounding margin -4.2 –
ASSISTS 400 495
Assists per game 12.5 15.5
TURNOVERS 354 346
Turnovers per game 11.1 10.8
Turnover margin -0.2 –
Assist/turnover ratio 1.1 1.4
STEALS 164 182
Steals per game 5.1 5.7
BLOCKS 176 111
Blocks per game 5.5 3.5
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TEAM STATISTICS UD OPP
SCORING 2211 2131
Points per game 67.0 64.6
Scoring margin +2.4 –
FIELD GOALS-ATT 774-1890 740-1802
Field goal pct . 4 1 0 . 4 1 1
3 POINT FG-ATT 225-629 206-662
3-point FG pct . 3 5 8 . 3 1 1
3-pt FG made per game 6.8 6.2
FREE THROWS-ATT 438-642 445-665
Free throw pct . 6 8 2 . 6 6 9
F-Throws made per game 13.3 13.5
REBOUNDS 1279 1120
Rebounds per game 38.8 33.9
Rebounding margin +4.8 –
ASSISTS 488 420
Assists per game 14.8 12.7
TURNOVERS 449 420
Turnovers per game 13.6 12.7
Turnover margin -0.9 –
Assist/turnover ratio 1.1 1.0
STEALS 159 165
Steals per game 4.8 5.0
BLOCKS 99 118
Blocks per game 3.0 3.6
We are about 30 minutes from tip-off and people are filing in. There were a couple of questions about the venue yesterday – the Boardwalk Hall. It is an absolutely beautiful building and just as I suspected – has a little age on it. The Hall was built in 1926 – not quite during Nucky Johnson’s reign of Atlantic City, but shortly after. Needless to say it is a great place to watch a basketball game.
A Dayton Flyers fan? Stick around as Casey is putting together an article on the inter workings of the Dayton basketball team. Should be a great read!!
The Dayton Band has everyone off and running, as we get a closer to tip-off.
It is the Battle of the Bands as we are about 5 minutes from tip-off. The crowds are noticeably bigger for today’s games. Should be a great afternoon of basketball. Stick around!
The Hawk has arrived and is flapping away!
The Dayton student section is known as the Red Scare. They are leading the pre-game cheers and getting Flyer fans ready!
Just a quick note – With yesterday’s win, Dayton is now 18-14 in Atlantic 10 championship history – specifically 9-7 under coach Brian Gregory.
With yesterday’s win, Saint Joseph’s has advanced to the Atlantic 10 semifinals for the 14th time. Not listing all the years.
We have tip-off!!
Josh Benson was just called for traveling and Coach Gregory is letting him know to attack the basket..nicely. Flyers lead early 2-0.
Idris Hilliard slips the screen for a dunk and the Hawk fans come alive!
First media timeout and the Flyers lead 6-4.
We have our first 3 of the game, and it is Brandon Spearman for the Flyers.. Flyers lead 13-6.
The pace of this game is borderline track meet. Not sure if this is the pace Coach Martelli wants. It is the pace Coach Gregory wants and he continues to use his entire bench. Mass substitutions as he keeps his players fresh and tries to wear down St. Joseph.
Another media timeout and Dayton leads, 15-6.
Missed free throws by Daryus Quarles and the Hawks can’t get themselves back into it.
The Hawks look confused on offense and after Charoy Bentley throws up an airball – shot clock violation, Flyers’ ball.
3 pointer by Charoy Bentley and the Hawks try to get back into the game, 17-9.
Missed shot by Dayton. Carl Jones drives for the Hawks, misses and Ronald Roberts with the put back and one!! Roberts hits the free throw and the lead is cut to 5, 17-12.
Chris Wright drives the length of the floor and is fouled. The shot just barely rolls off the rim! Wright will go to the line for 2 free throws – after this media timeout. Dayton leads 20-12.
Wright hits one of two and the Flyers lead, 21-12.
Brandon Spearman just picked up his 2nd foul and has to take a seat on the Flyers bench. Coach Gregory is giving him an earful. The conversation is very one-sided.
Josh Parker with the drive to the hoop for the bucket!! Flyers lead 23-12.
A sidenote: The Flyers managers call Parker – “Juice”. Why? Because he is overflowing with energy.
Charoy Bentley for 3!!! The Hawks won’t go away, 23-15.
It is Langston Galloway’s turn for 3!!! The Hawks cut the lead to 23-18.
Juwan Staten with the steal and layup, the Flyers push the lead back to 7, 25-18.
Missed shot by the Hawks and another bucket by Staten, 27-18.
After another missed shot by St. Joseph’s, Chris Wright makes an errant pass and throws the ball out of bounds. The ball goes back to the Hawks. Media timeout, 27-18.
Both teams with a couple of misses, followed with a steal by Hawks’ Langston Galloway. He is fouled going to the basket, Galloway hits one of two, 27-19.
Chris Wright is fouled and hits one of two, 28-19.
Charoy Bentley for 3!!! The Hawks trim the lead to 6, 28-22 with just a little over a minute to play.
Turnover by the Flyers and the Hawks call timeout, 44.2 seconds to play.
A jumper made by Carl Jones for the Hawks1
Shot missed by the Flyers at the buzzer!
Flyers head to the locker room with the lead, 28-24.
Some half time stats for you:
St. Joseph shot 31% from the field (9 – 29), with 5 assists and 3 turnovers. The Hawks were 4-15 from behind the 3 point line.
Dayton shot 45.8 % from the field ( 11-24) with 6 assists and 4 turnovers. The Flyers were 3-7 from behind the 3 point line.
Both teams are shooting less than 50% from the free throw line.
Starting the 2nd half, Josh Benson slips the screen for an easy bucket. Assist to Chris Wright. Flyers up 30-25.
We are back!! Signal issues. But with about 2 minutes to go and Dayton leads 60-55.
It has been a back and forth second half. Apologies for the issues.
Hawks miss both ends of the free throws and the game remains at 60-55.
The Boardwalk Hall is loud and alive!!
A costly traveling call on Chris Wright and the ball goes back to the Hawks.
The Hawks miss and with less then a minute to go, they must file.
Chris Johnson on the line for a 1 an 1. He hits both free throws. Flyers lead 62-55!!
A 3 pointer by C.J. Aikens and the Hawks cut the lead to 4, 62-58 with 34.4 seconds left. Timeout Hawks!
Coach Gregory is not happy!
The Flyers are able to inbound the ball and the Hawks are forced to foul. Chris Johnson to the line for a 1 and 1.
Missed the front end, Hawks ball.
A Dayton foul and Carl Jones to the line. Hits the first but misses the second. The Hawks are forced to foul. Paul Williams will go to the line for the Flyers.
Williams hits a crucial free throw, but misses the second.
Galloway drives the floor and is fouled. Hits the first free throw and hits the second. A 2 pt game!!
Juice Parker to the line for the Flyers. Crucial Free throws!
Hits the first!!
Misses the second!
The Hawks try to bring the ball up the floor but the Flyers knock it out of bounds. 2.8 seconds left.
Turnover by the Hawks and it is Dayton ball! Media timeout. But with 2.8 seconds left, it appears that the Flyers will be moving on to the A-10 championship.
Williams inbounds the ball, but it stolen by Galloway who tries a desparation half court shot. To the dismay of the Hawks fans it is off the mark and the Dayton Flyers have moved on to the A-10 Championship game!!
#12 v #9 in semis? The A10 is crazier than the BE (or CCYO as I tend to call it – College CYO). Lower seeds advancing to semis and finals! Was it Rey that said yesterday that the depth of A10 is evident in the fact that Dayton, a 20 game winner, has a losing conference record?
Geez! I just realized that A10 is MORE CCYO than BE! BE 8 of 16; A10 8 of 14!
Pete, yesterday was my first time getting a glimpse of Dayton and they were impressive. Extremely quick and athletic.
From everything I have heard here, none of the teams with a first round bye wanted Dayton in the Quarterfinals.
St. Josephs is a team that is still young – as Reynell pointed out. Carl Jones, the point guard is going to be a very good player – just needed experience.
If Brent Musberger was here, we would be getting his signature line, “Folks we are seeing the youngster grow before our very eyes”.
Apparently a lot of talent in the A10, young AND old!
It’s a mystery.
I’m listening to this game on Westwood One radio. Cable is out today. Workers somehow messed up the fiberoptics line to the house yesterday. I’m ticked. I also missed the ND game last night. Sheeesh.
So who’s all there in Atlantic City?
Wally, if you are referring to Pickin Splinters representation – it is Casey and I.
Some interesting stats from the game:
Chris Johnson led the Flyers with 19 points, but Chris Wright had a double-double with 17 points and 15 rebounds. During a stretch in the second half, Wright had back to back dunks that put the Flyers ahead for good.
The Hawks certainly did not go without a fight. They were led by Langston Galloway who had 16 points and 9 rebounds.
Smitty, I thought maybe Kel and Ab/Cece may have joined. I saw Kelly chime in with a comment re: Dayton.