Feb. 14, 2004
Box Score
By DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer
PHILADELPHIA - Saint Joseph's backcourt led the Hawks to No. 22.
Jameer Nelson scored 20 points and Delonte West added 14 points and nine assists to help No. 3 Saint Joseph's remain undefeated with a 73-59 victory over Rhode Island on Saturday.
Tyrone Barley had four 3-pointers and scored 14 points for the Hawks (22-0, 11-0 Atlantic 10) who extended their school-record winning streak and remain one of two unbeaten teams in Division I. No. 2 Stanford (20-0) plays at California on Saturday night.
Brian Woodward had 19 points and 13 rebounds for the Rams (14-11, 3-8), who have slowed since their 13-2 start. Dawan Robinson, who was averaging a team-high 17.3 points, finished with six points on 2-for-13 shooting.
The Rams entered as the only team with a winning record left on Saint Joe's schedule and they appeared to be the biggest threat to the undefeated regular season.
For a half, at least, the Rams were, trailing by only five points thanks to tight defense, a huge rebounding edge and uncharacteristically poor 3-point shooting by the Hawks.
"We played hard and rebounded, but you still have to execute," Rhode Island coach Jim Baron said.
Saint Joe's turned the game around in the opening minutes of the second half, getting two 3-pointers from Pat Carroll - he was 0-for-2 in the first half - during a 13-2 run that made it 49-33.
The Rams missed their first eight shots before scoring eight straight points, then getting two 3-pointers from Steve Mello that cut the deficit to nine with 7:17 left.
While the Hawks didn't end with a blowout, as has been the norm for most of their wins, one result did stay the same - the chants of "Undefeated!" from the sellout crowd.
Rhode Island had a 48-26 rebounding edge, exposing again Saint Joe's lack of height in the frontcourt, but committed 21 turnovers to only nine for the Hawks.
Rhode Island trailed by 10 points midway through the first half before responding with a 16-9 spurt that pulled the Rams to 29-26. Dustin Hellenga capped the run with a 3-pointer, pumping his fist and quieting what had been a raucous Saint Joe's crowd.
Nelson, though, followed with a steal and was fouled on a fastbreak layup, then made the free throw for the three-point play.
Two possessions later, West had a steal and was pushed hard under the basket on the break by Hellenga. Players exchanged some words and had to be separated by referees. West made both free throws, helping the Hawks to the 36-31 halftime lead.
The Hawks shot 42 percent from 3-point range this season, but they missed eight of 12 attempts in the first half. Barley saved the percentage from being even worse by going 3-for-3.
