Blizzard Jonas Postpones Big 5 Matchup, St. Joe’s Tops La Salle

(Sideline Photos, LLC – St. Joseph’s Athletics)

In a Big 5 game that Blizzard Jonas caused to be postponed to Sunday afternoon, the St. Joseph Hawks defeated the La Salle Explorers 69-48 at the Tom Gola Arena. Junior DeAndre’ Bembry had a game high 16 points along with his six assists. Senior Isaiah Miles added 14 points and nine rebounds. Freshman Lamarr Kimble chipped in with 10 points to help the Hawks to their fifth straight win and 12^th victory out of the last 13 games.

La Salle led 19-8 early in the first half and never trailed again. The Hawks went on a 20-3 run at the end of the first half to take a 28-22 lead into halftime. The 11 point comeback was the biggest deficit the Hawks have overcome this season.

The Hawks missed all of their first six three-point attempts to fall behind 19-8 with 8:20 left in the half. Aaron Brown and Kimble each scored four points and Bembry added five straight points to tie the game at 21. Papa Ndao and Bembry scored five and two points, respectively, to close out the half.

At the start of the second, senior Isaiah Miles scored five straight points to extend the Hawks lead to 10. The Explorers scored four points to try to close the deficit, but it was not enough as Miles scored six more straight points. A jump shot made by Bembry took the lead to over 20 points with 3:17 left in regulation.

SJU shot 50 percent from the field and went 3-for-19 from three point range. Jordan Price and Cleon Roberts led La Salle with 14 and 12 points, respectively. With the win, Saint Joseph’s moves to 16-3, 5-1 in the A-10 and the Explorers drop to 5-12, 1-5 in the A-10. Next La Salle travels to Duquesne for a 7 PM tipoff on Tuesday. Next, Saint Joseph plays its fourth consecutive game in Philadelphia, as it hosts Massachusetts on Wednesday, January 27 at Hagan Arena. Tip-off is at 7:00 PM ET.