Pumas Finish Tigers in Final Minutes
SJC Sports Information
Box Score
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. - The Saint Joseph’s College men’s basketball team earned a 68-63 victory on Thursday evening over Olivet Nazarene University. In a game that featured 10 ties and 14 lead changes Jordan Steven’s (Sr., Medaryville, Ind./West Central) gritty play down the stretch helped ensure the SJC victory.
The Pumas’ defense remained consistent throughout the first half as the offense struggle at the start of the game. The Tigers opened-up a 20-12 lead in the early minutes and carried an eight point edge into the final nine minutes of the half. SJC pressured nearly every attempt over the first 20 minute and a late 13-3 run allowed the Pumas to go into the locker-room with a 29-27 edge.
SJC jumped out to a 33-27 lead through the first 90 seconds of the second half, but Greg Bennett’s jumper minutes later gave ONU a 34-33 lead. Tied at 55 with five minutes to go, a Stevens steal followed by a Phillip Collins (RSr., Indianapolis, Ind./Pike) pulled-up jumper gave SJC a 57-55 lead. The Pumas forced another steal on the ensuing possession as Dayvon Sloan (Jr., Louisville, Ken./Waggener) drove the basket to convert a contested lay-up.
Jake Hasselbring looked to cut the ONU deficit in half, but could not finish the three-point play after getting to the basket for a lay-up and foul. Tealgile Stonewall (RSo., Anderson, Ind./Anderson) left open in the middle of the floor knocked down a jumper that returned the SJC lead to six points on the ensuing possession.
Antonio Marshall dropped a long three-point bucket out of ONU time that pulled the Tigers within 65-62 with a minute left in the contest. Hasselbring grabbed the rebound off Collins’ missed jumper, but Stevens stole the ball under the SJC basket and dished-out a pass to Ryan Rebholz (Fr., Fishers, Ind./Fishers) who converted the easy lay-up with 39 seconds left in the game. Stevens then muscled through the paint to pick-up the rebound off Marshall’s final attempt.
Phillip Collins finished with a game-high 20 points while Sloan added 19 points. Jake Hassler (Sr., Evansville, Ind./Mater Dei) played 15 minutes and picked-up a game-high nine rebounds.
The Pumas will travel to Indianapolis, Indiana next Friday to play Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Tip-off is scheduled for 7 PM EST.