METUCHEN, NJ–It was Showdown Thursday in the GMC Red as third ranked East Brunswick took on top ranked St. Joseph’s at the Bird Cage. The Falcons had their hands full with an EB team that was looking to build on the momentum gained from Tuesday’s win at home over second ranked Piscataway. However, Quenton DeCosey and the Falcons were having none of it. The Temple bound swingman scored a game high 24 points including a thunderous two handed dunk for a 42-32 lead early in the fourth quarter. EB was unable to get any closer than six after that as St. Joe’s won, 49-42. Below are the game notes from the contest.
First Quarter
2:45–East Brunswick calls a 30 second timeout. Â St. Joe’s leads 6-5 after one of two from the foul line by Quenton DeCosey, who has scored all the Falcons points so far including the game’s first points on a bucket, and 4 of 6 at the line. Â Rob Ukawuba scored EB’s first points with a strong layup while Mike Summerer showed some outside touch with a three from the left wing to tie the score at 5-5. Â Both DeCosey and Abu Bestwaros have two fouls already.
1:32–St. Joe’s leads 10-7 after a drive to the hoop for a layin by Karim Awad. Â DeCosey gave the Falcons an 8-5 lead with a layup down low before Ukawuba responded with a bucket to draw the Bears within one.
52.0–EB takes a 12-10 lead on a pair of free throws and a three pointer from the left side by Danny Leung. Â Karl Towns picked up his second foul.
32.1–St. Joseph’s ties the game at 12-12 on two free throws by Awad.
0.0–EB is unable to take the lead as Jake Krantz missed on the follow in the waning seconds. Â There is a lot of electricity in the gym right now. Â Great basketball atmosphere. Â Am I at the GMCT Championship Game? Â Feels like late February.
DeCosey scored 8 points while Awad chipped in with 4 for Joes.
Leung has 5 points, Ukawuba has 4, and Summerer has 3 for EB.
Second Quarter
3:50–St. Joe’s calls a 30 second timeout with a 19-15 lead. Â Awad gave the Falcons the lead again with a layup at about the 6:30 mark. Â Both teams are dealing with foul trouble already as Summerer picked up his second foul of the game at the 5:42 mark. Â DeCosey added another two points while Long struck for his first points of the game on a three pointer. Â Jake Krantz accounts for all the Bears scoring with one of two free throws, and a layup.
3:28–St. Joseph’s goes up 22-15 on a three pointer by DeCosey from the left wing.
2:09–St. Joseph’s turns the ball over as Danny Brix steps out of bounds.
1:52–EB–Summerer scores the basket, and is fouled by Gilmore for a three point play, and a 22-18 STJ lead.
1:15–EB–Summerer is fouled again, and makes one of two at the line for a 22-19 St. Joe’s lead at the half.
0:00–STJ–last second heave by DeCosey falls short, but Falcons lead 22-19 at the intermission.
DeCosey scored 5 points, Awad added 2, and Long had 3 Â for the Falcons
Summerer had 4 and Krantz 3 for EB.
Third Quarter
7:21–EB–Ukawuba opens up the second half scoring with a drive from the left wing for a layup, and a 22-21 STJ lead.
7:08–STJ–DeCosey puts back his own miss for a 24-21 lead.
6:57–EB–turnover.
6:28–EB–Bestawros misses layup.
6:19–STJ–Towns calmly swishes three pointer for a 27-21 lead.
5:59–EB–Amir Bell blocks shot by Awad, and ball goes out of bounds to EB.
5:40–EB–Summerer hits three from right wing for a 27-24 STJ lead.
5:17–STJ–DeCosey hits baseline jumper for a 29-24 lead.
5:11–STJ–DeCosey called for his second foul–apparently had two earlier, but there must have been an oversight.
4:45–EB–Bestawaros hits baseline jumper from right side for a 29-26 STJ lead.
4:14–STJ–Brix scores down low for a 31-26 lead.
3:54–EB–draws charge on DeCosey–3rd foul.
2:22–EB–calls timeout after Leung connects on another three from the left wing for a 36-29 STJ lead. Â The Falcons got scores by Towns on a layuup underneath and a three point play by Long before Leungs three for EB.
2:02–STJ–Towns connects on jumper for a 38-29 lead.
0:00–Neither team is able to score before the end of the period as Brix misses a shot down low, and EB misses heave from halfcourt.
Fourth Quarter
5:56–EB–calls for time after a layup to close the gap to 42-34. Â DeCosey just threw down a monster two handed jam off a nifty move. Â The Bears began the fourth with a three pointer from the left wing by Garry Baumer to pull within six at 38-32 before Awad scored a layup and DeCosey threw down his dunk.
5:37–EB–draws charge on Danny Brix.
4:42–STJ–calls a 30 second timeout after DeCosey hits a fadeaway from the right baselined for a 44-36 lead. Â EB closed to within six after Bestwaros made two free throws.
2:11–STJ–calls a full timeout after EB gets two points to pull within six at 44-38.
1:27–EB–calls timeout after Amir Bell scores in traffic down low to close the gap to 46-40. Â Bears having difficulty getting over that 6 point barrier. Â DeCosey gave the Falcons an eight point lead with another fadeaway that got a kind bounce with under two minutes to play.
10.1–STJ–DeCosey seals 49-42 victory by making both ends of bonus.