Halil Kanacevic scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the first half alone, and the Hawks' offense awoke in the second half, as Saint Joseph's topped St. Bonaventure 67-48.
The Hawks stumbled out of the gate, falling behind 10-5 as Langston Galloway struggled to get open just one day removed from his 31-point performance. After falling behind 19-10, Saint Joseph's would come charging back however.
The Hawks stumbled out of the gate, falling behind 10-5 as Langston Galloway struggled to get open just one day removed from his 31-point performance. After falling behind 19-10, Saint Joseph's would come charging back however.
With the rest of the team struggling get open looks, Halil Kanacevic picked up the slack, giving the Hawks a 24-23 lead with a three. Kanacevic would continue to carry the load for the Hawks, as they went to the locker room tied at 29 with the Bonnies.
The senior forward filled the stat sheet in the first half, recording a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. While Kanacevic thrived, the rest of the Hawks struggled, turning the ball over 10 times and shooting just 39.1 percent from the field.
The Bonnies received a much more balanced effort in the half, as Charlon Kloof scored 9 points to lead the team. St. Bonaventure however, struggled with their shooting as well in the half, making just 31.4 percent from the field and going just 1-of-7 from beyond the arc.
The Hawks would take a 34-32 lead on a three by Langston Galloway early in the second half and begin to pull away from there. With the defense locked down and shooting improving, the Hawks steadily built a comfortable lead.
Kanacevic continued to dominate, and with improved play by Galloway and Ronald Roberts Jr., Saint Joseph's went up by as much as 21 before winning 67-48 to send the team to its first Atlantic 10 Tournament Championship since 2008.
The star of the game, keeping the Hawks in it early while his teammates struggled was Kanacevic, who finished with a game high 26 points and 17 rebounds, as the forward appeared hungrier than anyone on the court this afternoon.
"How they were playing us, obviously after yesterday's performance and how he's played all season, they were hard on Langston," Kanacevic said. "I was getting good looks. He was getting me good looks. The coaches have confidence in me, the team has confidence in me and I've got confidence in myself."
Galloway finished with 18 for the Hawks, and Roberts with 12 points and 8 rebounds, as Saint Joseph's greatly improved its shooting in the second half.
The Hawks will now head to the championship game, where they will face either VCU or George Washington.
"We just have to go out there and seize the moment," said Galloway. "Play hard and leave it all out there because there's no tomorrow. It's the championship game."
After the win today, there most likely will be a tomorrow however, as the Hawks may have sealed their invitation to the NCAA Tournament. Regardless, they seem to be concerned only with the task at hand, tomorrow's championship.
"We don't listen the outside stuff, we just listen to each other, listen to our coaches. We just try to go out there and play hard, and control what we can control," said Roberts.
By: Kyle Babcock
Follow us on Twitter: @BroadStBeat
The senior forward filled the stat sheet in the first half, recording a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. While Kanacevic thrived, the rest of the Hawks struggled, turning the ball over 10 times and shooting just 39.1 percent from the field.
The Bonnies received a much more balanced effort in the half, as Charlon Kloof scored 9 points to lead the team. St. Bonaventure however, struggled with their shooting as well in the half, making just 31.4 percent from the field and going just 1-of-7 from beyond the arc.
The Hawks would take a 34-32 lead on a three by Langston Galloway early in the second half and begin to pull away from there. With the defense locked down and shooting improving, the Hawks steadily built a comfortable lead.
Kanacevic continued to dominate, and with improved play by Galloway and Ronald Roberts Jr., Saint Joseph's went up by as much as 21 before winning 67-48 to send the team to its first Atlantic 10 Tournament Championship since 2008.
The star of the game, keeping the Hawks in it early while his teammates struggled was Kanacevic, who finished with a game high 26 points and 17 rebounds, as the forward appeared hungrier than anyone on the court this afternoon.
"How they were playing us, obviously after yesterday's performance and how he's played all season, they were hard on Langston," Kanacevic said. "I was getting good looks. He was getting me good looks. The coaches have confidence in me, the team has confidence in me and I've got confidence in myself."
Galloway finished with 18 for the Hawks, and Roberts with 12 points and 8 rebounds, as Saint Joseph's greatly improved its shooting in the second half.
The Hawks will now head to the championship game, where they will face either VCU or George Washington.
"We just have to go out there and seize the moment," said Galloway. "Play hard and leave it all out there because there's no tomorrow. It's the championship game."
After the win today, there most likely will be a tomorrow however, as the Hawks may have sealed their invitation to the NCAA Tournament. Regardless, they seem to be concerned only with the task at hand, tomorrow's championship.
"We don't listen the outside stuff, we just listen to each other, listen to our coaches. We just try to go out there and play hard, and control what we can control," said Roberts.
By: Kyle Babcock
Follow us on Twitter: @BroadStBeat
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