Saint Joseph’s Wins Big Five Pod Opener 83 -77 Over Penn
PHILADELPHIA, PA. 11/14/2026
In many ways the atmosphere at the Hagan Arena took everyone back to a Big Five game they remember. It was the noise in the building and the competitive aspect of the game that brought up memories. At the end Saint Joseph’s Hawks preserved their 83 – 77 victory over a game University of Pennsylvania Quakers. Each team had a big time scorer that both set a career-high in points in a single game. For the Hawks it was Khaafiq Myers getting 32 points. Penn got 30 from Michael Zanoni. But in a team game the Hawks got a little bit more.
“That is what we all love about the Big Five, two teams playing extremely hard, competing, shot making on both sides,” said Saint Joseph’s coach Steve Donahue. “At the end of the day the team that figured out how to defend the other one better was going to win. I thought we did that in the second half.”
Myers vs. Zanoni
It was an interesting battle between these two guards. Zanoni scored 23 of his points in the first half, adding 7 more in the latter twenty. Myers, described as a handful by Penn Coach Fran McCaffery, scored 8 in the first half, then 24 of 46 Hawks points in the second half.
Myers made 12 of 19 shots and 2 of 5 from beyond the arc. In the second half he made 8 of 12 shots and 2 of his 3 from distance. He made the first 8 Hawks points of the second half, and 10 of the final 12 SJU points. Myers is the first player to score 30 or more points for Saint Joe’s in a game since Erick Reynolds II put 30 on Richmond in the 2024 A10 Tournament. Myers added another career-mark with 7 assists. That is special for a Philly guard to play so well in a Big Five game.
“It’s super special,” said Myers. “Reminds me of the Catholic League. It’s always going to be a dog fight when you’re playing a Philly team. And it just means something.”
He was the engine. And the Hawks had others step up.
“I thought Khaafiq was the key for a lot of reasons,” Donahue said. “But you saw BJ (Ranson) have his moments and I don’t want to overlook Jaiden’s (Glover-Toscano) contributions down the other end against (TJ) Power. He was having for him a poor offensive game, but it didn’t let it affect him on the other end. And that probably won us the game when he held TJ (Power) to 16 points on 15 shots.
Zanoni ended the game making 10 of 21 field goal attempts, 6 of 13 three-pointers, and was a perfect 6 for 6 from the free throw line. In the first half he was 6 of 12 from the floor and 5 of 8 from distance, making all of his free throws then. Saint Joseph’s turned up the defense on the Quaker guard.
“Michael Zanoni is one of the best shooters I’ve ever been around, and what’s amazing is that he got 32 points with how they defended him,” said Penn Coach Fran McCaffery on the performance of Zanoni. “They were physical with him; they face guard him everywhere; they put their hands on him.”
Key Back and Forth Runs
Penn took a 50 – 41 lead four minutes into the second half. The Hawks would respond with a 19 – 8 run over the next four and a half minutes keyed by Myers and BJ Ranson scoring 10 and 9 points apiece in that stretch. All the buckets by Ranson were three-pointers. Saint Joseph’s took the lead at 60 – 58. Penn tied it at 60 on two free throws by TJ Power. Mekai Johnson put the Hawks back in front with a three. Saint Joseph’s would not trail again.
That lead would stretch to 76 – 65 with 3:37 on the clock. Think it was over? The Red and Blue did not. They would get back to within 78 – 76 as 1:03 showed on the clock. St. Joe’s would put the game away. Myers had all of the points.
“I thought our shot selection was good,” McCaffery said. “It’s not like we took rushed shots or contested shots, it just didn’t fall.”
What the Numbers Say
Johnson would get collegiate-bests with 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Ranson scored 17 points behind 5 three-pointers.
Saint Joseph’s turned the ball over 14 times. One in the second half, none in the last 14 minutes.
For Penn Zanoni reached double-figures for the fourth straight game this season. He has gone over 30 points twice. Power added 16 points for his third 10+ point game this season.
The Quakers played without four players due to injury.
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: glenn@phillycollegesports.com
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