Saint Joseph’s Lead Melts Away in A-10 Home Opener

PHILADELPHIA — The Saint Joseph’s Hawks led for almost all of the first 36 minutes of their 62-56 loss to the Davidson Wildcats, but a late shooting slump spelled doom in their A-10 home opener on Saturday, Jan. 3.

Junior Wildcats’ guard Sam Brown, who played under Saint Joseph’s head coach Steve Donahue at Penn and is the son of former 76ers head coach Brett Brown, came up with the dagger, sinking a three off an offensive rebound with 32 seconds left to give Davidson a 58-54 lead. The Hawks, for their part, made just one shot from the field over the last six minutes and 34 seconds, going 1-for-9 with two turnovers in that span.

Both teams suffered from streaky shooting for most of the game: Davidson made just six of 2o shots in the first half, with three of those makes coming from Brown. Saint Joseph’s made just three of 22 shots from beyond the arc.

The Hawks began on a 7-0 run, Brown snapping the spell with his first of two three-pointers. Saint Joseph’s sophomore center Jaden Smith checked in at the first media timeout and picked up an immediate block, then sank a three on the other end. The 6-foot-11 Fordham transfer excelled against Davidson’s smaller lineups, posting seven points in just nine minutes off the bench.

The Wildcats began to reel St. Joe’s back in with a 6-0 run, and Latvian sophomore Roberts Blum scored eight straight for Davidson, tying the game 49-49 with a three. Austin Williford put the Hawks back in front with a triple, St. Joe’s penultimate make.

Saint Joseph’s homestand will continue on Wednesday, Jan. 7 when they host Duquesne at 7 p.m.