2008 Woodie Awards
Hawks slay Dragons in Palestra battle
Leo Strupczewski '06
Issue date: 12/2/05 Section: Sports
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Pat Calathes checked into the game with just over two minutes left. Assistant Coach Mike Rice gave him one job.
"Don't foul," Rice said.
Saint Joseph's held a 59-50 lead over the Drexel University Dragons at the time, and Ahmad Nivins had just fouled out. It was his fifth foul of the half, and the Hawks fourth foul in just over two and a half minutes.
It was that type of game. Again.
Last year, the two teams combined for 43 personal fouls. This year's game did not disappoint. The two combined for 35-Dragons 18, Hawks 17-including an erratic second half in which both teams sent the other into the double bonus.
At the end, the Hawks solidified a 69-59 win from the free throw line. They made 12 straight free throws over the final four minutes.
"It's going to matter with this team-that we shoot free throws," head coach Phil Martelli said. "It's just the nature of what skill this team has. [They] have the ability to shoot the ball."
And play defense.
The Hawks held Drexel to just 37% shooting from the field, and forced nine first half turnovers. On Drexel's first six possessions, the Hawks forced two missed shots, two turnovers, and two personal fouls. It was a five-minute defensive effort highlighted by the play of Ahmad Nivins.
A possession after slipping into the lane to draw a charging foul, Nivins blocked Drexel center Frank Elegar's shot. While a number of layers scrambled for the loose ball, Nivins headed down-court for an outlet pass. He got one from Dwayne Lee-from half court for a thunderous alley-oop dunk.
"I saw him running out of the corner of my eye," Lee said of the play. "He's a great athlete, and I knew he would go get it wherever I put it for him. So I just threw it up there and let him go get it."
It was a polished play in what was an otherwise knock-down, drag 'em out contest. But Lee found a way to keep Saint Joseph's under control. He directed the Hawks through their deliberate offensive sets, and shouldered the offense when the opportunities were there. It was a Dwayne Lee Saint Joseph's hasn't seen very much of.
"Don't foul," Rice said.
Saint Joseph's held a 59-50 lead over the Drexel University Dragons at the time, and Ahmad Nivins had just fouled out. It was his fifth foul of the half, and the Hawks fourth foul in just over two and a half minutes.
It was that type of game. Again.
Last year, the two teams combined for 43 personal fouls. This year's game did not disappoint. The two combined for 35-Dragons 18, Hawks 17-including an erratic second half in which both teams sent the other into the double bonus.
At the end, the Hawks solidified a 69-59 win from the free throw line. They made 12 straight free throws over the final four minutes.
"It's going to matter with this team-that we shoot free throws," head coach Phil Martelli said. "It's just the nature of what skill this team has. [They] have the ability to shoot the ball."
And play defense.
The Hawks held Drexel to just 37% shooting from the field, and forced nine first half turnovers. On Drexel's first six possessions, the Hawks forced two missed shots, two turnovers, and two personal fouls. It was a five-minute defensive effort highlighted by the play of Ahmad Nivins.
A possession after slipping into the lane to draw a charging foul, Nivins blocked Drexel center Frank Elegar's shot. While a number of layers scrambled for the loose ball, Nivins headed down-court for an outlet pass. He got one from Dwayne Lee-from half court for a thunderous alley-oop dunk.
"I saw him running out of the corner of my eye," Lee said of the play. "He's a great athlete, and I knew he would go get it wherever I put it for him. So I just threw it up there and let him go get it."
It was a polished play in what was an otherwise knock-down, drag 'em out contest. But Lee found a way to keep Saint Joseph's under control. He directed the Hawks through their deliberate offensive sets, and shouldered the offense when the opportunities were there. It was a Dwayne Lee Saint Joseph's hasn't seen very much of.