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Saint Joseph’s guard Xzayvier Brown reached a career milestone on Wednesday night, scoring his 1,000th career point. However, the Hawks fell short in the First Round of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), losing 69-65 to UAB.
Game Highlights and Key Performances
Brown led the Hawks with 21 points and contributed four steals.
Anthony Finkley continued his strong form, scoring 12 points and grabbing eight rebounds, matching his season high.
Derek Simpson added 11 points.
Justice Ajogbor was a dominant defensive force, blocking a career-high eight shots—just one shy of the NIT single-game record. He also pulled down 10 rebounds, tying his season high.
Erik Reynolds II wrapped up his college career with an impressive total of 2,175 points and 350 three-pointers.
How the Game Unfolded
Saint Joseph’s had a slow offensive start but turned things around with a 16-8 run, taking a 16-12 lead midway through the first half. Their strong defensive effort helped them stay in the game, with three blocks in the first four minutes.
Neither team built a lead larger than five points in the first half. UAB edged ahead 32-29 with two minutes left, but a jumper by Reynolds and free throws from Shawn Simmons II gave the Hawks a 33-32 halftime advantage.
UAB started the second half with a three-point play, but the Hawks responded with a 12-2 run, taking a 44-37 lead. Brown extended the advantage to 49-41 with a layup, but UAB answered with a 7-0 run, forcing a timeout.
In the closing minutes, Saint Joseph’s had several shots rim out, allowing UAB to take control and secure the victory.
Season Recap
With this loss, the Hawks finished their season with a 22-13 record. Despite the setback, they made history by qualifying for national postseason tournaments in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2013 and 2014.
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