METUCHEN, NJ–On Thursday night, the top two teams in the GMC Hoops Top Ten, 2nd ranked East Brunswick and top ranked St. Joseph’s went at it. For two and a half quarters, the two teams went at it like two fighters in a heavyweight prize fight. Then, St. Joseph’s too command with a 16-2 tear to take a 53-38 lead heading into the fourth period. The Falcons cruised from there to a 75-53 victory. Syracuse bound Tyus Battle led the way with a game high 28 points while Branislav Vujadinovic chipped in with 13 and Alanzo Frink added 11. Addis Ralph (19 points), Mike Vick (17 points), and Matt Ross (12 points) combined to score 48 of EB’s 53 points. Below are game notes from the action:
First Quarter
6:26–We are off to a flying start with this thunderous slam by Bree Tyree for a 4-2 Joes lead.
5:51 left in the first quarter and EB calls time after this score by Tyus Battle puts Joes up 8-2. Battle has 4 pts.
2:07 left in the first quarter and EB pulls with two on this bucket and foul by Mike Vick.
0:00–End of the first quarter and Joes leads 16-15 on this trey by Tyus Battle.
Second Quarter
5:33 left in the first half and EB takes its 2nd lead of the game at 20-18 on a three from the right wing by Mike Vick.
3:32 left in the first half and Joes on a 7-0 run after a three from the right side by Branislav Vujadinovic made it 25-20.
1:06 left in the first half and Joes up 30-24 thanks to a three from the right wing freshman Khalif Battle.
30.2 seconds left in the first half and EB’s Addis Ralph throws down this a one handed slam for a 32-27 Joes lead.
0:00–Game has gone to the half with Joes leading 32-27. Tyus Battle has 2 fouls. Joes first half scoring: Tyus Battle has 16 points while Branislav Vujadinovic chipped in with 7. Six different players scored for St. Joseph’s. The Falcons got their 32 points on 10 FGs, two threes, and 3 of 7 from the foul line. EB first half scoring: Addis Ralph and Mike Vick each lead the Bears with 11. Ralph, Vick, and Matt Ross (5 points) accounted for all of the Bears scoring. EB got its 27 points on 10 FGs, 2 threes, and 1 of 4 from the foul line. Joe’s outscored EB by a 9-6 margin from beyond the arc.
Third Quarter
3:57 left in the third and Joes calls for a 30 second timeout after EB opens half with a 9-8 run to close the gap to 40-36.
2:07 left in the third and Joes now up by 10 at 48-38 after a three point play by Branislav Vujadinovic. Falcons have scored 8 of the last 10 points.
1:02 left in the third and Joes has its biggest lead of the game at 53-38 after a trey from the left corner by Khalif Battle.
0:00–End of third and Joes leads 53-38. Falcons end period on a 16-2 tear.
Fourth Quarter
5:59 left in the game and EB calls time after Joes goes up 60-43 after a putback by Alanzo Frink.
4:29 left in the game and EB is trying to climb back into this one with a layup by Mike Vick that capped a 6-2 burst and closed the gap to 62-49.
3:23 left in the game and Joes is in command after a three point play by Alanzo Frink makes it 69-50.
0:00–Game just ended here at Joes with the top ranked Falcons winning over 2nd ranked EB 75-53. St. Joe’s ended the game by scoring 6 of the last 9 points. EB scoring for the game: Addis Ralph led the Bears with 19. Mike Vick chipped in with 17. Matt Ross added 12. The trio of Ralph, Vick, and Ross accounted for 48 of EB’s 53 points. Mike Brizuela (2 points) and Joe Sampson (3 points) were the other two players that scored for the Bears. EB got its 53 points on 15 field goals, 5 threes, and 8 of 15 from the foul line. Joes scoring for the game. Tyus Battle led with a game high 28 points. Branislav Vijadinovic added 13. Alanzo Frink had a big 4th quarter with 9 points to end up with 11. Khalif Battle chipped in 8. The Falcons had 9 different players score. St. Joseph’s got its 75 points on 20 field goals, 6 threes, and 17 of 22 from the foul line. Joes outscored EB by an 18-15 margin from beyond the arc and a 17-8 margin from the line.