St. Joseph’s Pulls Away From Union, 53-45

Sophomore DeCosey And Veteran Morgan Help Falcons Defeat Farmers

METUCHEN, NJ–It was a crazy morning and afternoon for GMC Hoops, but it did manage to catch the action from the final two and a half quarters of basketball between Union and St. Joseph’s. The game, originally scheduled to be the opener at Harwood Arena on the campus of Kean University in the 2009 Tip-Off Classic, was moved to the Bird Cage at St. Joe’s as the weather forced the cancellation of day one of the Hoop Group’s annual showcase event to start the new year.

The web site joined the action in this one with about 4:26 remaining in the first half, and the Falcons already leading 13-8. Sophomore sensation, Quentin DeCosey, then put the Falcons up by seven with a layup underneath at the 4:10 mark. A little more than a minute later, senior guard, Andrew Morgan got a short jumper to softly rattle in for a 17-8 lead. Morgan then struck for a three pointer from the right corner a short time later for a 20-8 lead before the Farmers rallied with a 9-2 spurt to close the half with the Falcons, which were held without a field goal for two plus minutes, still leading 22-17 at the break.

In the second half, St. Joseph’s started out strong with two field goals for a 4-0 run, and a 26-17 lead, but Union roared back into the contest with a 12-3 tear including a three pointer to tie things up at 29-29. Following a Falcons 30 second timeout, St. Joe’s regained control of the game with a three pointer from the top of the key by DeCosey, and then the top ranked team in the GMC Hoops Top Ten got two free throws for a 5-2 run, and a 34-31 lead. The Falcons almost led by more, but Morgan’s long heave from halfcourt hit the rim as time expired.

The final saw Union get to within one point midway through the period, but the Farmers were unable to take the lead or tie. Morgan opened the period with a three pointer from the right wing at the 7:32 mark for a 37-32 lead. Union was able to draw within three on a field goal despite an earlier blocked shot by DeCosey, but following another Falcons timeout, the sophomore put his team back up by five with two free throws. UHS rallied again with four straight points to pull within one at 39-38, but DeCosey struck again for three from the left corner to give St. Joe’s a four point cushion at 42-38 with exactly four minutes to play.

Over the next 2:23, the Falcons increased the lead to nine at 47-48 on a 5-0 run including two free throws by Robert O’Grady with 1:37 left. Union got a three point play on its next possession to close within six, but the Falcons went on to win 53-45.