Oglethorpe Outlasts Men’s Basketball in Atlanta on First Day of Holiday Inn Express Classic

ATLANTA, Ga. — Playing their first game since December 10, the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) men's basketball team (4-4) battled host Oglethorpe University on day one of the Holiday Inn Express Classic at Dorough Field House.

It was the first-ever meeting between the two programs and the Stormy Petrels (6-5) withstood a second-half comeback from SJC for a 68-63 victory. Three Bears scored in double-figures led by senior forward Stephane Etheart (Hollis, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) and his 23-point, 13-rebound double-double.

How It Happened
Sebastien Etheart (Hollis, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) scored five-straight points for the Bears early on to put them ahead 10-3 with 16 minutes on the first-half clock. They maintained an edge until the 12:25 mark when Justin Day converted a layup to go up 15-14. Then, halfway through the first with the score knotted at 17, Oglethorpe mounted a 13-2 run for an 11-point lead.

The Petrels' advantage grew to as much as 14, but SJC junior guard Frank Reali (Staten Island, N.Y./Susan Wagner) buried a deep-ball with 4:11 remaining to bring the visitors within 10. Seven unanswered from Oglethorpe put the Bears back in a hole as they went on to trail 46-35 at intermission.

St. Joseph's came out aggressive to open the second half and cut the deficit to seven on a Steph Etheart finish. Then, with 15:33 left in the game, Steph hammered down a dunk that brought the Bears within five (51-46). He scored in the paint yet again to make it 51-48 Oglethorpe, and Reali followed with a trey to tie things up at 13:45.

Senior forward Kavan Meiner (Staten Island, N.Y./Susan Wagner) sunk a pair of freebies halfway through the second to give SJC a 53-51 bump, but it went on to be their final lead of the contest. After going down by one 18 seconds later, the Bears stayed within three for the next 7:21 in a neck-and-neck game down the stretch.

Steph made a tip-in with just under two minutes to play that brought his team's gap to two (63-61), but the Petrels outscored SJC 5-2 over the final minute-and-a-half to seal a hard-fought win.

For the Bears

• Steph Etheart's 23 points (8-14 FG) were a game-high, as were his 13 rebounds (three steals).
• Reali pitched in 10 points and seven boards, while fellow Susan Wagner High School product Meiner had a near double-double with 10 points and nine caroms.
• Seb Etheart had a near triple-double finishing with 10 rebounds, eight assists, and eight points.

Next Up
The Bears conclude the Holiday Inn Express Classic tomorrow as they take on Berry College in their first-ever meeting. Tip is scheduled for 2 p.m. and links to live stats and video will be available at SJCBears.com/live.