No. 6 USJ Too Strong For Men's Hoops in 79-60 Final
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - A 17-3 run to close out the first half lifted the No. 6 University of Saint Joseph (CT) Blue Jays past visiting Emmanuel College, 79-60, Saturday afternoon at the O'Connell Center in West Hartford, Conn.
February 12, 2022
THE BASICS
Score:
Emmanuel, 60 – USJ, 79
Records:
Emmanuel College Saints (13-8, 9-6 GNAC)
No. 6 Univ. of Saint Joseph Blue Jays (21-0, 16-0 GNAC)
Location: West Hartford, Conn. – O'Connell Center
Date: Saturday, February 12, 2022
THE LEAD – A 17-3 run to close out the first half lifted the No. 6 University of Saint Joseph (CT) Blue Jays past visiting Emmanuel College, 79-60, Saturday afternoon at the O'Connell Center in West Hartford, Conn.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Saints played even with the Blue Jays through the first 14 minutes of action as senior Devin Pulsifer (Winthrop, Mass.) gave EC a 24-23 lead on a three with 6:16 to play.
- Over the final 5:16 of the half, USJ outscored the Saints by a 17-3 margin to open up a 40-27 halftime lead that proved to be too much to overcome in the second half.
- With 11:42 to play in regulation, EC senior Ted Weber (Orange, Conn.) cut the deficit back to single digits at 51-43 but it was the closest the Saints would get as the Blue Jays answered with a quick 8-0 run to thwart any chance at a comeback, cruising to the 79-60 final.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- USJ Tyree Mitchell led all scorers with 21 points over 33 minutes of action while Jordan Powell added 10 points and a team-best eight rebounds.
- EC sophomore Eljay Morris (London, England) finished with a season-high 16 points and seven rebounds. Donte Pope (Middletown, Mass.) chipped in with 14 points.
- The Blue Jays finished the game shooting 47.5% from the field (29-61) compared to just 38.9% (21-54) by the Saints.
- The USJ reserves outscored the Saints bench by a 31-13 margin.
- Despite the loss, the Saints managed to out-rebound the hosts, 35-32.
- USJ remains the only undefeated men's program among NCAA Division III programs.
UP NEXT
- The Saints travel to Anna Maria College on Tuesday, February 15 in a key GNAC showdown that will have first-round seeding implications in play for both programs. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:00 PM.
- USJ hosts Johnson & Wales at 7:00 PM the same day.