Men's Hoops Falls To St. Joseph's University-LI, 79-77, In Overtime In Non-Conference Finale

Box Score

Patchogue, NY - The John Jay men's basketball team held a 70-67 lead with twenty-six seconds left in regulation before Xavier Allen hit a game-tying three-pointer to send the game into overtime in which the St. Joseph's University-Long Island Golden Eagles outscored the visiting Bloodhounds, 9-7, as John Jay dropped its final contest of 2023, 79-77, on Friday afternoon.

With the loss, the Bloodhounds finish their non-conference slate at 4-8 while the Golden Eagles at 5-6.

Four John Jay players reached double-figures in the contest, led by Garrison Watkins, who concluded the contest with a game-high 26 points on 11 of 21 shooting from the field. The Staten Island, NY native added a team-best six assists, while grabbing five rebounds and adding two blocks in 41 minutes of action.

Jamir Stewart also eclipsed the 20-point mark, as he netted 24 points on 8 of 20 shooting from the field while connecting on 5 of 11 from the outside in his 38 minutes of play. Stewart corralled eight rebounds, seven of which coming on the defensive glass.

TJ Chisolm and Jordan Evelyn rounded out the scoring for the Bloodhounds, with Chisolm going for 11 points in 43 minutes of play as he grabbed seven rebounds while Evelyn finished with ten points and matched Stewart with a team-high eight rebounds.

Three Golden Eagles netted double-digits, led by Allen, who produced a double-double, scoring 24 points on 10 of 31 shooting while securing 15 rebounds, nine of which coming on the offensive glass.

Alec Tabada added 22 points on 8 of 17 shooting, while converting 6 of 10 from the free-throw line in his 41 minutes of action. Spencer Malloy rounded the double-figure trio of scoring, chipping in 11 points.

Both teams traded points in the opening portion of the contest, with Watkins tying the game at 11 after sinking a pair from the free-throw line.

St. Joseph's University - LI staged an 11-3 run over a 4:21 stretch that saw their lead increase to 22-14 following an alley-oop from Terrin Roy off the pass from Thomas Bell at the 8:12 mark.

John Jay answered back with a 14-8 spurt of their own, limiting the Golden Eagles to just 2 of 6 during the 3:36 span, as the Bloodhounds cut the deficit to two, 30-28, following a made hook shot from Watkins.

The Bloodhounds scored eight of the final 12 points in the half, capped by a Stewart layup with 14 seconds showing on the game clock as John Jay entered the break with a 36-34 lead.

John Jay shot an economic 52.0 percent from the floor in the opening stanza (13 of 25) while holding the Golden Eagles to 38.7 percent shooting (12 of 31).

The Bloodhounds held an 18-14 edge on the glass, highlighted by a 14-8 performance on the defensive glass.

Over the first six-plus minutes of the second half, St. Joseph's University-LI controlled the tempo, outscoring John Jay 17-13 over this time in taking a 51-49 lead thanks to an Allen jumper.

The two teams continued to exchange points before the Bloodhounds took a slight lead, 66-63, following a three-pointer from Stewart off the pass from Evelyn with 2:46 left to play in regulation.

With 1:13 left to go, Evelyn hit a pair of free-throws for the Bloodhounds, giving the visitors a one-point edge, 68-67.

On the ensuing Golden Eagles possession, Allen misfired on a three that was tracked down by Chisolm.

The ball found the hands of Watkins, who drilled a mid-range jumper with 26 seconds showing, as the visitors led 70-67 with SJULI calling for time.

When play resumed, Malloy spotted Allen for a three-pointer that he converted, which knotted the game at 70-70 as John Jay called for time to advance the ball.

Evelyn received the ball off the inbounds but couldn't bank home the layup as Tabada grabbed the rebound and fired a pass to Allen, who heaved a last-second shot that didn't find the mark as the two teams geared up for overtime.

The Golden Eagles shot nearly 47.0 percent in the second half, while limiting the Bloodhounds to just 30.6 percent (11 of 36).

Evelyn got the scoring going in the extra session, converting on a tough layup in the paint, as the Bloodhounds went up 72-70.

Allen answered with a layup of his own to knot the game at 72 before Stewart dialed up his fifth three-pointer of the game, giving John Jay a three-point lead (75-72) with 2:37 left to go.

Isaac Holmes added to the visitors' advantage, connecting at the free-throw line that made it 77-72.

With 92 seconds remaining in the first overtime, Stewart miss fired on a three-point that Justin Turner tracked down. Allen received the ball and located Malloy, who was able to convert on the layup that brought the home team to within three, 77-74.

Malloy continued to be the Golden Eagles catalyst, as he grabbed the offensive rebound on the Tabada missed jumper and got fouled when banking home the layup. Malloy completed the three-point play from the line, tying the game at 77 with forty seconds left in the first overtime.

Following the timeout, Watkins had a look but his jumper was short as Malloy locked up the rebounds.

Allen drove the lane but missed on the-go-ahead layup but following a scrum, the ball remained with the Golden Eagles, with eight seconds left.

Turner got the ball and found Malloy, who powered in the paint and put the Golden Eagles ahead, 79-77.

The Bloodhounds committed a turnover in the final seconds as the Golden Eagles held on for the victory.

For the game, John Jay shot 38.2 percent from the field (26 of 68) while hitting on 10 of 29 from long range (34.5 percent).

John Jay opens the new year on Wednesday, January 3 as the Bloodhounds will resume CUNY Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) play when they welcome York to the Doghouse.

Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m.

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