STANDISH, Maine – Saint Joseph's College (11-8, 6-0 GNAC) used a blistering first-half shooting display to build a 14-point halftime lead and withstood a furious second-half push from Albertus Magnus College (13-6, 5-1 GNAC) to earn a 99-96 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) victory on Saturday afternoon at the Harold Alfond Center.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Both teams entered the day unbeaten in GNAC play, and Albertus Magnus scored the game's first bucket, but the Monks quickly found their rhythm and turned the opening stretch into a three-point barrage. Saint Joseph's knocked down nine threes and shot 55.9% (19-34) from the field in the first half en route to a 52-38 lead at the break.
Albertus Magnus came out flying after intermission, shooting 55.2% (21-38) in the second half and trimming the deficit to five midway through the period. Each time the visitors threatened to flip the script, Saint Joseph's had an answer to keep the Falcons at arm's length.
The final minute turned chaotic, with Albertus connecting on late threes to keep it a one-possession game. The Monks converted a pair of fastbreak layups and went 4-for-6 at the free-throw line to preserve the 99-96 decision, even as a halfcourt heave from Albertus senior Ray Ford, Jr. (Jersey City, N.J.) found nothing but net at the horn.
STATS OF THE GAME:
Saint Joseph's won the math battle from deep, finishing 13-for-27 from three after a 9-for-17 first half that fueled the early separation. Albertus Magnus generated 48 points in the paint and grabbed 17 offensive rebounds, but the visitors' late surge ultimately fell short.
LEADERS – SAINT JOSEPH'S:
- Remijo Wani (Jr., Portland, Maine): 33 points (11-15 FG, 4-6 3PT), 5 rebounds
- John Paul Frazier (Sr., York, Maine): 19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals
- Wani Donato (Sr., Portland, Maine): 17 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists
- Davis Mann (Fr., Falmouth, Maine): 9 points, 7 rebounds
- Tong Maiwen (Sr., Juba, South Sudan): 8 points, 9 rebounds
- Silvano Ismail (So., Portland, Maine): 6 points, 4 steals, 3 rebounds, 4-5 FT
- Kolbyn Dunphe (Jr., Westbrook, Maine): 7 points, 5 assists
LEADERS – ALBERTUS MAGNUS:
- Jayquan Kirkland (Jr., Stratford, Conn.): 33 points (14-21 FG), 4 rebounds, 4 assists
- Ray Ford, Jr. (Sr., Jersey City, N.J.): 20 points (4-8 3PT)
- Isaiah Earl (Jr., Hamden, Conn.): 16 points, 11 rebounds
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:
Saint Joseph's is now 14-19 all-time versus Albertus Magnus College and has defeated the Falcons in four consecutive meetings for the first time since 2009.
NEXT!
The Monks will host Lasell University in a rematch of the 2025 GNAC Championship on Tuesday at 7:30 PM.
