Nov. 18, 2006
Box Score
EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Ahmad Nivins and Rob Ferguson each scored 19 points as St. Joseph's handed Lafayette a 81-73 defeat in the home opener at Kirby Sports Center. The Leopards were led by Matt Betley who chipped in with a career-high 17 points and five rebounds in the loss.
An evenly-played first half saw the Hawks hold a 34-28 lead with 3:24 left before intermission. The Hawks stretched the lead to 14 with just over a minute left in the first half when Hawks guard Jawan Carter was fouled while attempting a baseline three-pointer. Carter sank all three free throws to give St. Joseph's a 44-30 lead. A Jamaal Hilliard lay-up with six seconds left cut the halftime deficit to 12 for the Leopards.
St. Joseph's maintained a double-digit lead throughout most of the second half, expanding its edge to 17 when Nivins hit two free throws with 7:35 remaining.
The Leopards climbed back into the game when senior tri-captain Marcus Harley nailed two jumpers. The Harley baskets sandwiched Betley steal and layup cut the Hawk lead to eight with 1:34 remaining, forcing St. Joseph's head coach Phil Martelli to take a 30-second timeout.
A Carter jumper stretched the lead back to 10 with 1:02 remaining. The Leopards again responded with an immediate 5-0 run off a Bilal Abdullah jumper and three-point play from Paul Cummins.
That was as close as the Leopards got. Hawk forward Pat Calathes converted on three of his final four free throws to give St. Joseph's its second consecutive win to open the 2006-07 campaign.
The Leopards had three players in double figures. Adding to Betley's team-high 17 points were contributions of 13 and 11 from Abdullah and Hilliard, respectively. Lafayette was out-rebounded for the fourth straight game, falling short 32-21 on the boards.
"We came up too little, too late," O'Hanlon said. "I think they ended up wearing us down and we weren't able to respond until the final minute."
Lafayette will take the three days to regroup and turn their focus to a Tuesday night game in Baltimore, Md. against UMBC. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
