Feb 1, 2003

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Jameer Nelson had 18 points and Tyrone Barley, making his second career start, added a career-high 14 points and 10 rebounds as Saint Joseph's defeated Rhode Island, 69-53, Saturday despite missing two starters.

Delonte West, Saint Joseph's second-leading scorer with 17.1 ppg, was suspended indefinitely after an altercation at practice Thursday. The Hawks (15-3, 6-2 Atlantic 10) were also missing center Alexandre Sazonov, who was suffering from food poisoning.

Dawan Robinson had 16 points for the Rams (12-6, 4-3), who made 21-of-63 (33 percent) from the field.

Three treys by Barley paced a 17-6 run that put Saint Joseph's ahead 28-17 with 56 seconds left in the first half. The Hawks, who are 9-0 at home, led 30-22 at the break.

Nelson's 3-pointer making it 61-42 with 4:55 left in the second half. At one point, the Hawks' advantage reached 22.

Before the game, a moment of silence was held in honor of the space shuttle astronauts who died earlier Saturday.