Fine St. Joseph's season comes to end
Chris Jimenez chipped in 17 points for St. Joseph's college. (undated file photo) Credit: Handout
A fine season for the St. Joseph's College men's basketball team came to an end in the NCAA Division III Tournament Friday night as the Golden Eagles' second-half rally fell short in an 87-84 loss to Albertus Magnus in a first-round game in Middlebury, Vt.
Slowing down Albertus Magnus' top two threats was the issue. Ray Askew and Darius Watson had 28 points each for the Falcons.
Eric Klingsberg had 20 points, Shahab Syed added 18 and Chris Jimenez chipped in 17 for the Golden Eagles (21-5).
Albertus Magnus (28-1) took a 39-27 halftime lead and went ahead 60-40 with 12:29 left in the game.
But St. Joseph's stormed back in the next 9:04 as Klingsberg (11) and Jimenez totaled 19 points during a 41-20 run that gave the Golden Eagles their first lead of the game, 81-80, with 3:25 left.
The teams traded baskets for the next few minutes before the Falcons went ahead 87-84 on a layup by Arshad Jackson with 26 seconds remaining.
St. Joseph's missed two potential tying three-pointers in the game's final seconds.
It was a banner season for St. Joseph's, which made its second NCAA Tournament appearance and its first as an at-large team.
The Golden Eagles were the top seed in the Skyline Conference Tournament but were upset in a semifinal by SUNY Purchase.
