Courtesy of SJUHawks.com
DeAndre’ Bembry had 17 points and eight rebounds to lead Saint Joseph’s to a 75-60 win over Penn in Big 5 action at the Palestra on Wednesday night. The win is the Hawks’ fourth in a row and 11th in the last 12 games, improving their record to 15-3.
The game was the second of a doubleheader which celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Philadelphia Big 5. Temple defeated La Salle, 62-49, in the first game.
Bembry also had four steals and four assists while Aaron Brown had 15 points on 6-for-11 shooting and Isaiah Miles scored 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Shavar Newkirk had 11 points and five assists while fellow point guard Lamarr Kimble scored eight points and handed out a season-high six assists.
The Hawks only trailed in the first four minutes and then built up a 29-15 lead, as Brown scored 11 in the first half. Saint Joseph’s would take a 39-23 lead at the half as the Hawks limited Penn to just 27 percent shooting.
After Saint Joseph’s scored the first five points of the second half to take a 44-26 lead, Penn scored eight in a row to come within 44-34. But that would be the closest the Quakers would get the rest of the way as SJU answered with back-to-back baskets from Newkirk and Bembry to give the Hawks a 48-34 cushion. Penn cut its deficit to 52-40, but Bembry scored four in a row and Newkirk added a layup to build Saint Joseph’s lead back up to 58-40.
SJU took its biggest advantage of the game, 67-48, after Bembry picked up a steal and fed James Demery for a dunk at 3:34.
“I thought the two point guards were terrific. They had 19 (points) between them and 11 assists. I thought that once we got our feet going, they really had a nice feel for the game,” said Phil Martelli, who picked up his 390th career win. “I am concerned with rebounding. We did not answer the bell rebounding the ball. We have to shoot the ball better. We considered this a road game, so we’re going to go on the road six or seven more times in the Atlantic 10 and the Atlantic 10 Tournament, and we have to shoot the ball better. I didn’t think we were crisp enough in our shot execution.”
“I think our players were excited about the building and they should be, because they represent Philadelphia basketball everywhere they go in the Atlantic 10,” said Martelli. “Philadelphians come here because of the building. That’s the magic.”
Saint Joseph’s is scheduled to visit La Salle on Saturday, January 23 in a 4 p.m. game.
OTHER GAMES IN THE ATLANTIC 10.
VCU 93 Duquesne 71
Five players scored in double figures and VCU shot 53 percent (32-of-61) from the field on the way to its ninth straight victory Wednesday night at the Siegel Center. READ MORE.
Video courtesy of VCU athletics.
Saint Louis 96 Davidson 87
Three Billikens posted career-scoring highs in a thrilling 96-87 Saint Louis win over Davidson Wednesday night in Atlantic 10 Conference men’s basketball action at Chaifetz Arena. READ MORE.
Fordham 73 George Mason 62
Bronx, N.Y. – Fordham freshman guard Joseph Chartouny returned to action tonight after missing five games with an injury. But it was the player who started in his absence who stole the show as sophomore Antwoine Anderson scored a career-high 23 points to lead the Rams to a 73-62 Atlantic 10 win over George Mason University in the Rose Hill Gym. READ MORE.
Video courtesy of Fordham athletics.
Temple 62 La Salle 49
PHILADELPHIA – La Salle sophomore Tony Washington posted career-highs in points (16) and rebounds (13) but the Explorers fell to Temple, 62-49, in the first game of the Big 5 doubleheader at the Palestra on Wednesday. READ MORE.
Tuesday
Dayton 85 St. Bonaventure 79
Charles Cooke and Dyshawn Pierre combined for 12 straight in a 19-0 first-half run, and the University of Dayton Flyers took a 45-18 lead into halftime before holding off a late Bona comeback. READ MORE.
Video courtesy of St. Bonaventure athletics.
Leave a Reply