Sunday Metro Recap: Pirates Win!

"Maybe the members of that magical 88-89 team that will be honored can snap the current team out of its Big East slump. The big day, combined with the fact that the Hoyas lack a back-to-the-basket big man who will resort to banging on the blocks, could be the recipe for a stunning upset."

Those were my words in last Monday's "Metro Ranking and Report" in regards to Sunday's Georgetown/Seton Hall game. I have to admit that I did not see the Pirates getting their first Big East on Sunday (I actually thought they'd beat Providence on Thursday), but The Hall (10-9, 1-6) got it done despite going a frigid 0-13 from behind the arc. The catalyst: the zone defense that held the Hoyas (12-6, 3-4) to 32.7% shooting on the afternoon, including 3-22 from three-point range. Jeremy Hazell (23 points) and Robert Mitchell (20 points) were the high scorers for the Pirates, who may have to go to more zone looks in future games due to their lack of depth inside.

Greg Monroe led the Hoyas with seventeen, but when DaJuan Summers and Chris Wright combine to shoot 3-18 from the field Georgetown is going to get beat. Seton Hall was able to force sixteen Hoya turnovers while committing just nine, and the turnover battle may be more important for them than any other team in the Big East due to their lack of depth. But even in the win, things need to change up front because the Pirates cannot win consistently without helping out John Garcia. Mike Davis pulled off a dubious feat on Sunday, fouling out in just two minutes of playing time. Brandon Walters lasted ten minutes but accounted for just a rebound and a blocked shot. Next up for Seton Hall is in-state rival Rutgers, who has the luxury of Hamady Ndiaye and Gregory Echinique inside. Should be interesting. 

Other Games

Army 76, Navy 71: The Black Knights (5-13, 1-3 Patriot) ended their four-game losing streak with a home win over the rival Midshipmen Sunday afternoon. Ten players scored for Army, led by guard Cleveland Richard's seventeen. The Black Knights, who host Lafayette on Wednesday, made up for twenty turnovers by limiting Navy to 31.1% shooting from the field. 

Sacred Heart 68, Wagner 64: On a day in which Wagner celebrated the 30th anniversary of one of the best teams in school history (coached by P.J. Carlesimo), Sacred Heart's (8-11, 5-4 NEC) Chauncey Hardy played the role of party crasher with twenty-five points for the visitors. Wagner (10-9, 3-6 NEC) was led by Jamal Smith's sixteen, and Llewchean Radford accounted for ten points and nine rebounds off the bench, but they couldn't take advantage of Sacred Heart's 22 turnovers (Wagner turned it over eighteen times). Both teams have home conference games on Thursday night, with Wagner taking on CCSU and Sacred Heart facing St. Francis (NY). 

Duquesne 89, Fordham 68: The Rams (2-15, 0-5 A-10) were run out their own gym Sunday afternoon, with the Dukes (12-6, 3-2) going on a 17-1 run in the first half to put the game away. Duquesne, who shot 50.8% from the field, was led by Bill Clark's 22. Guard Aaron Jackson put up an impressive stat line as well, posting numbers of 10 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists. Fordham was led by Mike Moore, who finished with eighteen. But when you go 2-23 from behind the arc and reigning Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week Alberto Estwick shoots 1-10 from the field, you'll get blown out. Next up for Fordham is a trip to Olean, NY to take on St. Bonaventure Wednesday.

Stony Brook 72, Hartford 63: The Seawolves (11-9, 3-4) pushed their conference winning streak to two games, beating the Hawks behind twenty-one points apiece from Bryan Dougher and Demetrius Young. But for the forty-two points they put up, one must not ignore the play of freshman forward Tommy Brenton. Brenton grabbed fourteen rebounds on the day, helping Stony Brook win the battle on the boards 30-22. Hartford was more than happy to fire away from behind the arc, with 33 of their 52 field goal attempts coming from distance. Jaret Von Rosenburg, who made four three-ponters, led the Hawks with twenty-one. Stony Brook has a pair of conference home games this week, with New Hampshire visiting on Wednesday and UMBC Saturday. 

Rider 78, St. Peter's 67: Rider (11-8, 6-3 MAAC) completed a 2-0 weekend with a win over the Peacocks at the Prudential Center behind twenty-five points from Ryan Thompson. Guard Novar Gadson contributed a double-double off the bench with sixteen points and eleven rebounds. Wesley Jenkins led St. Peter's (5-15, 2-8) with twenty points, but their defense and rebounding did them in. The Broncs shot 51.8% from the field (50.5% 3PT) and out-rebounded the Peacocks 35-25. Next up for Rider is Loyola (MD) on Friday night, while St. Peter's is back in action on Saturday when they visit Iona.

Loyola (MD) 73, Marist 72 (OT): Marist (7-15, 3-7 MAAC) lost their fourth consecutive conference game, falling by one to the Greyhounds in overtime. Rebounding told the story of this game, with the Greyhounds snagging thirteen offensive caroms on their way to a 39-26 edge. Loyola shot just 36.8% from the field but helped themselves at the charity stripe. Jamal Barney, who led Loyola with twenty-six points, and Brett Harvey both went 10-10 from the line, and as a team Jimmy Patsos' squad was 27-32. Marist was led in scoring by Kaylen Gregory, who came off the bench to score twenty-three. Next up for the Red Foxes is a game at Fairfield on Friday night. 

Princeton 64, Concordia (NY) 44: Sydney Johnson's Tigers (5-8) used a balanced offense, led by freshman Doug Davis' eleven points, to pick up a win in their first game since January 7th. Concordia won the battle on the boards by a final count of 39-31, but they shot jsut thirty percent from the field. Eleven Tigers scored in the rout, and Princeton shot 46.3% from the field. Ivy League play opens for the young Tigers on Friday, when they visit a Dartmouth team that won at Harvard on Saturday.