Saint Joseph's can't get by DePaul in Paradise Jam
Saint Joseph's can't get by DePaul in Paradise Jam
ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands - A close game slipped away from Saint Joseph's in the final minutes as the Hawks battled DePaul for third place in the Paradise Jam.
The Hawks fell last night, 58-51, marking the second straight night that St. Joe's (3-2) recorded a season low in points. Both games exposed deficiencies that need to be addressed after the team returns to Philadelphia, coach Phil Martelli said.
Associated Press
DePaul players celebrate after beating Saint Joseph's for third place in Paradise Jam.
"Last night, we were overwhelmed physically," Martelli said of Sunday's 85-60 loss to Purdue. "Today was a mental challenge."
Martelli said his team "played young mentally, so we have to clean that up."
Some of the problems - a .377 shooting percentage and an inability to force turnovers - are easy to identify, "but without an easy fix," Martelli said.
Saint Joseph's finished the tournament 1-2, dropping its final games after a first-round upset of Boston College.
DePaul captain Mack Koshwal didn't suit up due to a possible sprain. The Blue Demons (3-1) missed the junior center's presence in the low post. Senior guard Will Walker responded with a huge game, putting up 25 points and seven rebounds, including several big shots in the second half.
DePaul held a lead at halftime, 34-24.
"We had no juice in the first half," Martelli said.
Martelli credited his players with a tougher effort after the break, but couldn't say he was happy about his team's overall play. Too many dropped balls, rushed plays and poor shots.
Senior guard Darrin Govens kept the Hawks in the game, sinking two big threes down the stretch. Govens tied the game twice from the foul line in the final minutes and finished with a team-high 16 points.
Garrett Williamson added 10 points and four assists.
Charoy Bentley put in two consecutive three-pointers in the second half, bringing St. Joe's within three points with 12:20 left. The junior guard finished with nine points, all in the second half.
St. Joe's was down by a bucket with 4:32 left. Govens was fouled on a three-point attempt, and put in two from the line, tying the game.
Sophomore forward Devin Hill put DePaul back ahead with a short jumper. Govens was fouled on the next possession, and tied the game at 51-51 with 1:50 left to go.
Hill hit another jumper with 50 seconds left to put DePaul ahead for good.
Freshman guard Carl Jones, just named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week, missed a long three-point attempt, then forward Idris Hilliard rattled out a second attempt with 31 seconds to go. Walker sealed the deal from the free-throw line after intentional fouls, going 4-for-4 in the final seconds.
"It wasn't pretty, but it was obviously a very big win for us," DePaul coach Jerry Wainwright said.
