Men's Basketball Drop Nail-biter to Dallas to Open Texas Swing

IRVING, Texas – Making their first appearance in the Lone Star State in the opener of the University of Dallas Classic, the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) men's basketball team came out on the wrong end of a 55-52 decision against the University of Dallas on Friday evening at the Maher Athletic Center.

The Bears (1-2) were paced by Michael Megafu's (Brooklyn, N.Y./Nazareth) second straight double-double netting 18 points – 15 in the second half – 13 rebounds and three blocks, all game highs. Vernon Maddox (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's) chipped in 13 points with three rebounds and three steals.

The game was a back-and-forth affair featuring 12 ties and 12 lead changes and neither team gaining more than a six-point separation. The Bears had the ball with 6.2 seconds left and a chance to tie and managed to get a good look at a game-tying three, but the Ian Duff (Jamaica, N.Y./Christ the King) attempt at the buzzer would draw back rim. (Video)

The Crusaders (2-1) received a pair of double-doubles from Aaron Wyatt (15 points, 11 rebounds) and Nate Wilson (12 points, 11 rebounds) in the win. 

TURNING POINT

Megafu scored five points in 16 seconds with a trifecta and a steal and layup to put the Bears up 51-47 with 3:20 to play, matching their largest lead of the game.

But Ross Davidson would respond for the hosts scoring the next six points, going a perfect 4-for-4 from the line followed by a layup that gave the Crusaders a 53-51 lead with just over a minute to play.

After neither team could convert on their next possesions, Duff went to the line in the bonus with 7.4 seconds left and a chance to tie. Duff made the first but missed the second and the Bears immediately fouled Nate Wilson who knocked down both to go up three, 55-52.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Other contributors: Ian Duff (9 pts, 2-7 3FG, 2 reb), David Louison (4 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast)
• Both teams were plagued by sub-par shooting, both teams shooting a combined 27.5 percent in the opening stanza and the Bears edging out the Crusaders, 30 percent (18-60) to 28.8 percent (17-59) for the game.
• The Bears did well to protect the ball committing just five turnovers for the contest.
• Dallas won the battle on the boards, 53-38, parlaying 14 offensive rebounds into seven points, while the Bears managed just one second-chance point, securing only six offensive rebounds.
• The Crusaders went to the charity stripe 12 more times, converting on 19 of their 28 free throw attempts.

THE BEAR FACTS

• The Bears five miscues were the lowest since committing only five in a loss to NHTI in the USCAA Nationals in March 2005. 
• It was the first meeting between the two schools.

NEXT UP FOR THE BEARS

St. Joseph's will conclude their Texas trip facing Austin College tomorrow at 2 p.m. (eastern). Live updates via Twitter and Instagram on @SJCBears.