Hard Fought Win At EB Puts Falcons In Driver’s Seat For Division Crown
EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ–It wasn’t easy, but the Falcons will take it, especially knowing that they may have learned something about themselves in the process. With freshman phenom, Karl Towns hampered with foul trouble, and Quenton DeCosey having to earn every point he got against EB, St. Joe’s had to have others step up to come away with a hard fought victory over a fierce division rival.
The Falcons only had five players get into the scoring column, but three of them scored in double figures. Besides DeCosey’s game high 21 points including 11 in the final seven minutes of play, senior guard, Karim Awad turned in a solid effort with a career high 15 points while Danny Brix chipped in with 14 points. Brix is closing in on 1,000 points for his career with 976. The 55-47 win gave St. Joe’s a sweep over East Brunswick in the season series. Last year, the two teams split their two games with each winning on their home floor.
St. Joe’s, which remains undefeated in division play at 10-0, still has games remaining with South Brunswick and Piscataway, and with a two game lead in the standings, the Red Division isn’t clinched yet, but the Falcons are in the driver’s seat. Last year, the GMC Red ended up in a three way tie between P-Way, St. Joe’s and East Brunswick. All three teams split games against the other two in head to head competition, which made it a bit difficult to determine, which of the three would get the top seed. Piscataway ultimately won that battle, but St. Joseph’s defeated the Chiefs in the GMCT Championship for its second straight conference title.
East Brunswick had more players break into the scoring column with seven, but only one scored in double figures as Joe Ross scored 13. EB had more two point field goals (13-12) and points scored from three point range was even (12-12), but the Falcons got the win thanks to a 19-9 edge from the foul line. St. Joe’s outscored East Brunswick in three of the four periods despite having to contend with the hostile environment that is the Bear’s Den. Since losing to Teaneck, the Falcons have won 12 in a row, and host J.P. Stevens tonight and Marist of Bayonne on Saturday night.
Right now, the Falcons look to be the top seed heading into the upcoming GMCT. St. Joe’s will be looking to win its third straight conference crown. The last time a team won three straight MCT/GMCT titles was back in 1983, 1984, and 1985 when St. Peter’s of New Brunswick won three in a row. Read the full article on the game.