Here are highlights from the action in the nightcap game of the final day of the 2015 Hoop Group Tip-Off Classic between St. Joseph’s and Ramapo. St. Joseph’s, the top ranked team in the GMC Hoops Pre-Season Top Ten, only led 19-17 at the half as Syracuse bound Tyus Battle and Mississippi bound Bree Tyree were limited to just a combined two field goals.
The Falcons turned things around in the second half though as Battle scored 16 of his 19 points while Tyree scored 10 of his 12 points. St. Joe’s opened the second half on a 7-0 run, and led 45-33 midway through the fourth before Ramapo of the Big North Conference rallied with a 15-5 tear to pull within two. Battle, who scored his 1,000th career point with 2:31 left in the third, came up with a big block on Ramapo’s Matt Latka to help preserve the lead.
St. Joseph’s would hang on by scoring 5 of the last 6 points as Tyree scored a clutch basket, and made two foul shots while Battle, who scored 12 of his points from the line, added a free throw. Joe O’Hagan scored 14 points to earn game MVP honors for Ramapo while Latka chipped in with 10. Battle, who scored 17 points in the game opener against South Brunswick, was game MVP for Joes.