Men's Basketball Faces Future Skyline Conference Rival Mount Saint Vincent on Thursday in Road Twinbill

BROOKLYN, N.Y.–The St. Joseph's (Brooklyn) men's basketball team will look to improve to 6-1 as they travel to Riverdale, N.Y. to meet undefeated Skyline Conference opponent Mount Saint Vincent on Thursday, December 4 at 7:30p.m.

Game Information

Opponent: Mount Saint Vincent (4-0, 1-0 Skyline)
Date/Time: Thursday, December 4 • 7:30 p.m.
Location: Riverdale, N.Y.
Arena: Peter Jay Sharp Center

Coverage: Live stats

Quick Links

St. Joseph's: Roster | Schedule | Statistics | Misc. Stats
Mount Saint Vincent: Roster | Schedule | Statistics

Storylines

• The Bears improved to 5-1, their best start in the Joseph Cocozello era, by defeating Southern Virginia 89-74 on Saturday in a game they never trailed.
• David Louison continues to lead the way for St. Joseph's, recording a double-double in all six games this season. The senior leads the team in scoring (17.2) and rebounding (12.7).
• Last week, Louison was the recipient of his second consecutive and eighth career Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (HVIAC) Player of the Week honor.
• Michael Megafu is averaging just under a double-double for the Bears, scoring 16.3 points and grabbing 9.5 rebounds per game. The junior is shooting a blistering team-high 67.3 percent from the field.
• In his last effort vs. Southern Virginia, Megafu shot 11-of-13 from the field en route to a season- and game-high 28 points.
• Vernon Maddox is coming off a career-high 23 point performance against Southern Virginia. The senior finished a perfect 13-for-13 from the line as three different Bears reached the 20-point plateau for the first time this season.
• Mount Saint Vincent has jumped out to a 4-0 start as they look to rebound from last season's 8-17 finish. 
• The undefeated Dolphins have been winning big, downing all of their opponents by double-digits and averaging a dominant 19-point margin of victory. This includes an 82-60 win over fellow HVIAC-member Vaughn College on November 18.

Series History

Mount Saint Vincent holds a 5-2 edge over St. Joseph's in a series history that dates back to November 24, 2002.

Last Meeting

On November 27, 2012, St. Joseph's defeated Mount Saint Vincent 68-66. The Bears produced a balanced attack with four scorers finishing in double figures led by David Louison's 13 points and game-high 16 rebounds. Vernon Maddox came off the bench to drop in 13 points going 7-of-9 from the charity stripe. The Bears dominated play for most of the game leading by as many as 17 points and held off a late surge by the Dolphins to secure a narrow victory.

The Bear Facts

The 5-1 Bears are off to their best start under 13-year Head Coach Joseph Cocozello. David Louison has paced the Bears, leading the team with 17.2 points per game and 12.7 rebounds. Michael Megafu has recorded four double-doubles and is averaging 16.3 points and 9.5 boards. The junior also leads the team in blocks (1.8) and a career-high 67.3 field goal percentage.

Matt O'Neill sits third on the team in scoring (13.0) and leads the team in assists (3.7) and steals (2.7). The junior is the team's premier long-range threat, connecting on 43.8 percent (14-32) from beyond the arc. He is coming off a 4-for-4 performance from three against Southern Virginia.

Vernon Maddox rounds out four Bears averaging double-figures in scoring. The senior, fresh off a career-high 23-point effort, is averaging 11.8 points, 3.3 assists, 1.2 steals and a team-best 88.9 free-throw percentage (32-36). Maddox has connected on his last 14 free-throw attempts. 

St. Joseph's never trailed in victory over Southern Virginia on Saturday as three different Bears reached the 20-point scoring mark for the first time this season. Junior Michael Megafu shot 11-of-13 from the field en route to a season- and game-high 28 points. Senior David Louison filled up the stat sheet and extended his double-double streak to six games, recording 23 points, 10 boards, four assists, four steals and two blocks.

Senior Vernon Maddox dropped a career-high 23 points helped by a perfect 13-for-13 from the line and Matt O'Neill scored 13 thanks to a 4-for-4 performance from beyond the arc. The junior also dished out a game-high five helpers and added four rebounds. 

Louison Claims Second Consecutive HVIAC Player of the Week

David Louison is coming off his second consecutive and eighth career Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (HVIAC) Player of the Week honor, announced Tuesday by the league office.

Louison led St. Joseph's to victory over Southern Virginia by recording 23 points and game highs in rebounds (10), steals (4) and blocks (2). The senior shot 63.6 percent (7-11) from the field and also added four assists in his most impressive all-around effort of the season.

Mount Saint Vincent Last Time Out

The Dolphins improved to 4-0 after defeating Farmingdale State 78-60 on Tuesday in their Skyline opener. James Zuccaro led all scorers with a season-high 27 points on 10-of-15 shooting. The senior also added game highs in rebounds (10) and steals (4). Senior Antonio Johnson also notched a season-high in scoring, chipping in 23 points and game highs in assists (6) and steals (4). Mount Saint Vincent was never seriously threatened as they cruised to 4-0, keeping their perfect start intact ahead of their meeting with the Bears.

Next Up for the Bears

St. Joseph's will travel to New London, Conn. to compete in the Citizens Bank Tournament. Their first opponent will be Connecticut College on Saturday, December 6 at 8 p.m. with either Coast Guard or Worcester State waiting in the wings for a Sunday championship or consolation matchup.