When and Where:

December 29, 2023 - Patchogue, NY

Records:

St. Joseph's (L.I.), 5-6, 0-3 Skyline; John Jay, 4-8, 0-1 CUNYAC

Results:

The St. Joseph's University (L.I.) men's basketball team survived late against John Jay with a 79-77 victory in overtime. 

Top performers:

• Junior Xavier Allen led the Golden Eagles with 24 points, a game-high 15 rebounds, and three steals, adding four assists and two blocks

• Junior Alec Tabada posted 22 points, five rebounds, one assist, and two blocks

• Senior Spencer Malloy totaled 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and one steal

• Sophomore Justin Turner secured seven rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and one steal

• Garrison Watkins of the Bloodhounds totaled a game-high 26 points, six assists, five rebounds, two blocks and one steal

• John Jay's Jamir Stewart finished with 24 points, eight rebounds, one assist and two steals 

How it happened:

• In the first seven minutes of action, both teams traded baskets to keep the game within one possession when a three-pointer from Ryan McNeely awarded SJLI with their first lead of the game 

• At the halfway point in the half, the Golden Eagles built their lead up to eight points on a jump shot from Tabada that saw the forward complete the and one opportunity at the line

• In the final six minutes of the first half, the Bloodhounds would go on an 18-8 run to end the first half up two points

• The early minutes of the second half saw both teams trading three points shots, with the Golden Eagles scoring nine straight points off of three-point baskets 

• With just over 10 minutes remaining, John Jay's Jordan Evelyn was fouled on a made jump shot where the guard converted the and-one opportunity at the line to take a one-point lead

• As both teams traded baskets down the stretch, it was Stewart with a shot from beyond the arc to pull ahead three points, but back-to-back baskets from Allen and Tabada allowed St. Joseph's the lead again with 90 seconds remaining

• A free throw from Evelyn and a jumper from Watkins pulled the Bloodhounds ahead by three with 26 seconds remaining 

• Moments later, Allen answered from beyond the arc to tie the game and send it into overtime tied at 70

• The opening moments from overtime saw John Jay score the first two baskets, building a five-point lead before Malloy answered with a layup to cut the lead to just three

• Malloy would be fouled on another layup that saw the forward convert the and one at the line to tie the game at 77 a piece 

• It was all Malloy in overtime as the senior scored seven straight points in overtime including the final basket with six seconds remaining to give SJLI the 79-77 victory 

Notes:

• St. Joseph's shot 41.9% from the field and 31.6% from beyond the arc

• John Jay posted a 38.2% shooting percentage from the floor and 34.5% from three-point range

• St. Joseph's out-scored John Jay 40-16 in the paint

• The Golden Eagles held a slight rebounding edge 45-44

• There were 17 lead changes, and the score was tied 15 times in the contest

Next up:

The Golden Eagles travel to Old Westbury for a Skyline Conference matchup on Tuesday, January 2, at 6:00 pm.