MONMOUTH JUNCTION, NJ–In the finale of the 2012 GMCT Final Four doubleheader, top seeded St. Joseph’s got all it could handle from fifth seeded Cardinal McCarrick. After four lead changes and a tie in the first period, St. Joe’s ended the frame with a 6-1 run for a 14-9 lead. McCarrick only trailed 27-24 at the half, and actually tied it on a basket by Marques Townes with 6:20 to go in the third, but St. Joseph’s went on a decisive 9-0 run over a span of about two minutes to take a 38-29 lead, and the Eagles didn’t get closer than five points the rest of the way. Falcons went on to win 55-43. Below is the play-by-play from the contest.
First Quarter
7:45–STJ–DeCosey goes right to work with a drive into the paint for score and a 2-0 lead.
7:23–CM–Mohammed Alli knocks in triple from left side for a 3-2 lead.
7:12–STJ–turnover.
6:55–STJ–Karl Towns blocks shot by Marques Townes.
6:27–STJ–Danny Brix scores for a 4-3 lead.
5:30–CM–Rodriguez drives in from left side for layup, and a 5-4 lead.
4:15–STJ–Quenton DeCosey hits fadeaway in paint for a 6-5 lead.
3:42–STJ–Brix hits jumper from left elbow for an 8-5 lead.
3:33–CM–Rodriguez sinks three from right wing for a 8-8 tie.
2:49–STJ–turnover.
1:51–STJ–Brix strikes with three from left wing for an 11-8 lead.
1:43–CM–misses shot–ball goes out of bounds–turnover.
1:15–STJ–Jimbo Long knocks in three from right wing off kickout for a 14-8 lead.
54.9–CM–Rodriguez fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 14-9 STJ lead.
38.6–CM–Rodriguez steals and goes the rest of the way for a layup, and a 14-11 STJ lead.
0.0–CM–Marques Townes misses heave from 30 feet as time expires.
Second Quarter
7:28–STJ–traveling.
7:13–CM–Townes banks in floater from right side for a 14-13 STJ lead.
6:56–STJ–fouled on floor.
6:32–STJ–Towns hits on one hander from right low block for a 16-13 lead.
6:12–CM–Alonzo Hamilton hits jumper from right elbow for a 16-15 STJ lead.
5:40–CM–traveling.
5:11–CM–Townes misses jumper, but DeCosey knocks the ball out of bounds.
4:42–STJ–fouled on floor.
3:50–STJ–Brix scores for a 18-15 lead.
3:35–CM–Rodriguez takes it to the hoop for a layup, and an 18-17 STJ lead.
3:10–STJ–DeCosey hits shot from right baseline for a 20-17 lead.
2:38–STJ–Karim Awad lobs to Brix for layup, and a 22-17 lead.
2:20–CM–Townes gets kind roll on floater for a 22-19 STJ lead.
2:00–STJ–Brix hits jumper for a 24-19 lead.
1:42–CM–Jumanne McDaniel fouled–2nd foul on Karl Towns–McDaniel makes both FTs for a 24-21 STJ lead.
1:36–STJ–fouled on floor
1:21–CM–fouled on floor.
1:10–CM–Rodriguez knifes in from right side for layup attempt, and is fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 24-22 STJ lead.
57.0–STJ–Brix drills three from left wing for a 27-22 lead.
31.0–CM–McDaniel scores on follow for a 27-24 STJ lead.
0.0–STJ–DeCosey hits rim on shot as time was running out…STJ still leads 27-24 at the half.
Third Quarter
7:30–STJ–Towns scores for a 29-24 lead.
7:19–CM–Rodriguez drains three from left wing for a 29-27 STJ lead.
7:18–OFFICIAL–timeout–Brix shaken up–but he eventually gets up on his own power, and eventually returns.
7:12–STJ–unable to score.
6:47–CM–timeout after STJ turnover.
6:25–STJ–DeCosey loses handle; stolen by Townes–CM.
6:20–CM–Townes scores on layup for a 29-29 tie.
6:00–STJ–DeCosey scores on off-balanced jumper for a 31-29 lead.
5:36–STJ–Long drains three from left wing for a 34-29 lead.
5:32–CM–timeout.
5:07–CM–double-dribble.
4:45–STJ–DeCosey elevates, and hits jumper for a 36-29 lead.
4:28–STJ–DeCosey drives in for layup, and a 38-29 lead.
4:06–CM–ties up STJ for jump ball–gets possession.
3:49–CM–Hamilton fouled–makes both FTs for a 38-31 STJ lead.
3:17–CM–Townes steals from DeCosey.
3:12–CM–Townes gets basket as he is fouled–misses bonus FT for a 38-33 STJ lead.
2:33–STJ–DeCosey fouled–makes both FTs for a 40-33 lead.
2:21–CM–Rodriguez knifed in from the left wing for a layup, and a 40-35 STJ lead.
1:55–STJ–fouled on floor; calls timeout on ensuing inbounds–avoids 5 sec call.
1:49–STJ–DeCosey gets kind bounce on jumper from right side of the key for a 42-35 lead.
1:22–STJ–carrying violation.
1:02–CM–Rodriguez drives in for another score, and a 42-37 STJ lead.
6.3–STJ–fouled on floor.
0.2–STJ–turnover.
0.0–CM–Townes shot attempt too long and high. Â STJ leads 42-37 after three.
Fourth Quarter
7:46–STJ–DeCosey gets kind bounce on jumper for a 44-37 lead.
7:24–CM–Townes fouled by Towns (4th personal)–makes both FTs for a 44-39 STJ lead.
7:12–STJ–Brix fouled–makes both FTs for a 46-39 lead.
7:09–CM–turnover.
6:36–CM–Rodriguez drives in for layup, and misses–some contact–no foul called.
5:41–STJ–DeCosey drives in for layup and a 48-39 lead…biggest of game.
5:21–CM–turnover.
4:30–CM–Townes hits backiron on short pull–up jumper in the paint.
4:02–CM–Townes dives for loose ball–calls timeout.
2:45–
2:36–STJ–DeCosey–fouled–misses front end of one and one.
2:27–CM–Rodriguez fouled–makes both FTs for a 48-41 STJ lead.
2:10–STJ–turnover.
1:59–CM–Rodriguez–fouled on  floor–appeared to have been fouled on shot, but the officials disagreed.–misses front end of one and one.
1:48–STJ–DeCosey–fouled–makes both FTs for a 50-41 lead.
1:28–CM–Townes hits backiron on pull-up jumper–STJ–Towns gets rebound–
1:15–STJ–Brix drives into middle, and banks in floater for a 52-41 lead.
1:01–CM–Alli–makes layup underneath and is fouled–misses bonus FT for a 52-43 STJ lead.
53.9–STJ–Brix fouled–makes both FTs for a 54-43 lead.
45.0–CM–Rodriguez stripped–DeCosey gets steal.
36.0–STJ–turnover.
21.5–STJ–Awad fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 55-43 lead.
3.5–CM–turnover.
0.0–STJ–wins 55-43.