Men's Basketball Gets Past Drew, 81-79, in OT Thriller at Rose City Classic Tip-Off

Madison, N.J. – The St. Joseph's College (1-0) men's basketball team defeated host Drew University (0-1), 81-79, in overtime of the season-opening Rose City Classic Tip-off Tournament in Baldwin Gymnasium.  The Golden Eagles will face Rosemont College in Sunday's championship game at 6:00 p.m. as the Ravens upended Penn State-Abington,73-71.

A lay-up by SJC senior forward Sean McCarthy off a steal by freshman forward Dan Brzozka with seven second remaining in the game proved to be the final difference in the contest, which was tightly contested throughout.  McCarthy led the Golden Eagles with a game-high 24 points on 9-for-17 shooting including six three-point field goals.  He also led the squad with 12 rebounds.

Sophomore guard Andy Laurent gave SJC the lead at 77-75 on a lay-up with 2:20 remaining and then hit another with 1:19 left to tie the game at 79.  Laurent had 18 points for the visitors on 8-for-17 from the field and five boards.  Also in double figures for SJC were newcomers, Isaiah Moore (12), a freshman forward, and Fernando Vazquez (10), a sophomore forward.

Drew junior center Kevin-Michael Miller notched a double-double of 10 points and 15 rebounds to lead five Rangers in double figures for scoring. Junior guard Mike Klinger had a team-high 17, while juniors Jason Huelbig and Kevin Herring II each tossed in 16 in the season opener.

The first half saw the SJC take the lead early. With five minutes remaining they were up five and Drew was chomping at their heels. 

At the half the score was 35-28 in favor of St. Joseph's despite a relatively even contest. The teams were within one of each other in personal fouls, turnovers, and steals. Drew, however, sunk only two of nine three point attempts, while SJC hit six of fourteen.

Drew finally knotted the score with 4:30 left at 64-64.  SJC then jumped back ahead as Moore hit a lay-up. Laurent increased the lead to four with 3:28 on the clock, and then Drew battled back to tie at 68.  Drew got a jumper at 1:24 to put the home team ahead for the first time since the opening minutes of the game, and then went up by four on a lay-up, 72-68.

A clutch three by Laurent helped bring the Golden Eagles back to within one with 24 seconds remaining.  Drew then converted a lay-up to inch ahead by one, 72-71. Heulberg made the back end of two free throw attempts to increase Drew's lead to two with 16 seconds left.  Down 73-71, Bzrzozka then took a McCarthy pass in for a lay-in with five seconds on the clock and sending the game into overtime.