ATLANTIC CITY -- Twenty more minutes of that and there won't be any doubt.
Thanks to a swarming defense and a big three by Pat Calathes three seconds before halftime, St. Joe's hit the locker room with an impressive 30-20 lead over a Xavier team that seemed overwhelmed by all that crimson in their shirts.
The offense wasn't so great, but if St. Joe's is winning 20 minutes from now that won't matter a bit.
The Hawks shot 11-for-25 from the field (44.0%), including 2-for-7 from three-point range (28.6%) and 9-for-18 from two-point range (50.0%), and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line (100.0%). One offensive rebound, 11 defensive rebounds, nine assists, four turnovers, two blocks, three steals and six fouls committed.
That adds up to 31 possessions and 0.979 points per possession.
The Musketeers shot only 8-for-25 from the field (32.0%), including 0-for-7 from three-point range (0.0%) and 8-for-18 from two-point range (44.4%), and 4-for-5 from the free throw line (80.0%). Five offensive rebounds, 13 defensive rebounds, four assists, seven turnovers, one block, two steals and seven fouls committed.
That adds up to 29 possessions and 0.685 points per possession.
Xavier also committed three shot clock violations and was a buzzer-beating jumper away from a fourth, which is even more impressive than any of that.
And Rob Ferguson just opened the second half with a big three of his own.
