Saint Joseph’s Hawks – Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Tournament Champions

#4 Seed Saint Joseph’s Hawks 65   #2 Seed VCU Rams 61

A10 MBB 2014The Saint Joseph’s Hawks are the Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball champions winner a thriller 65 – 61 at the Barclays Center.  Along with the championship the Hawks earn the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Saint Joe’s led from the start.  The Hawks held a 28 – 24 halftime lead, a lead they held until  the 12:37 mark when VCU took their first lead of the game on back-to-back three’s by Rob Brandenberg and Treveon Graham that tied it and gave the Rams a 43 – 40 lead.  The deficit for SJU grew to 6 points at 48 – 42 with 10:23 to play.  Saint Joseph’s responded by scoring the next sis-points to tie the game at 48 on a basket by senior forward Halil Kanacevic at the 7:32 mark.

The game would remain tight.  The Hawks regained the lead at 54 – 52 on a three-point play by freshman forward DeAndre’ Bembry with 3:15 on the clock.  VCU tied the game that senior guard Langston Galloway untied with a three-pointer with just under two and a half minutes to play.  One minute later senior forward Ronald Roberts put Saint Joe’s up 59 – 54 with a dunk.  Form there the Hawks held off the Rams by making 6 out of 10 free throws.

Galloway led Saint Joseph’s scoring a game-high 19 points.  He made 5 of 8 from beyond the arc.  Kanacevic registered a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds.  Roberts also had a double-double scoring 15 points and taking down 11 rebounds.  Bembry scored 13 points and handed out 8 assists.

Brandenberg scored a team-high 18 points, and Graham added 15 points.

Saint Joseph’s came into the tournament looking to strengthen their tournament resume.  The Hawks came out as Atlantic 10 Champions.

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