Almost every team in America was playing today thanks to either the wrapping up of conference season or tournaments. We’ve got tons of coverage from the MAAC tournament and the recap of Wagner’s semifinal loss. Here’s what else happened for New York City teams.
St. John’s 91, Marquette 90 (2OT): D’Angelo Harrison kept St. John’s NCAA tournament at-large hopes alive by hitting a loooong three to tie the game in double-overtime. Then Rysheed Jordan won the game with a free throw on the Red Storm’s next possession. Harrison, Jordan and Jakarr Sampson each scored 20 points for St. John’s. After starting Big East play 0-5 the Red Storm won 10 of their final 13 league games to finish 10-8. They’re sitting right on the bubble and will face fellow bubbler Providence in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden. STJ has to win that game (and possibly the next one) to make the NCAA tournament without winning the whole thing, but at least that possibility still exists.
Look how deep that Harrison three was from. Unreal. #sjubb pic.twitter.com/wsNXYuCEgH
— LAVINWOOD (@LAVINWOOD) March 8, 2014
Princeton 74, Columbia 64: The Lions finished the regular season with 19 wins and an 8-6 record in the Ivy League after dropping their final contest of the season to the Tigers. It was the offense that let Columbia down in the first half and the defense in the second. Princeton senior T.J. Bray scored 25 points and Clay Wilson scored 16 points on seven shots off the bench. The Lions really didn’t get going offensively until quite a ways into the second half. Alex Rosenberg shot just 3-12 from the field and finished with 14 points. Center Corey Osetkowski was a bright spot for Kyle Smith. He scored 19 points. Maodo Lo added 22 points too.
This is end of Columbia’s season – at least for now. The Lions are certainly in consideration for postseason basketball. I’d expect them to see them playing somewhere in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. Considering CU was picked eighth in the Ivy League the fact that they can finish no worse than tied for third is quite the accomplishment. Also, typically the final day of the regular season is Senior Day, but since there are no seniors on the Columbia roster just two team managers were honored pre-game. There are going to be big expectations for the 2014-15 season.
George Washington 70, Fordham 67: The Rams played their final regular season Atlantic 10 game on Saturday at Rose Hill and while they gave NCAA tournament bubbler George Washington a good run, Tom Pecora’s team fell just short after Branden Frazier missed a shot to tie at the end. The loss ends Fordham’s disappointing season at 9-20 (2-14 A-10). Frazier scored 28 points on 21 shots in the loss and Ryan Canty added 12 points and 16 rebounds. Fordham finishes in last place in the Atlantic 10 and will take on George Mason during the First Round game at the Barclays Center on Wednesday.
Delaware 87, Hofstra 76: Hofstra won one game in Baltimore (the first round game against UNCW), but faced with the tough task of a defeating the top seeded Blue Hens ultimately couldn’t close the door. The Pride led at halftime, 40-37, but Delaware scored 50 points in the second half to pull out the victory. Zeke Upshaw scored 23 points and Dion Nesmith added 16 points. The Pride grabbed 27 offensive rebounds led by Stephen Nwaukoni’s nine. He finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds. Joe Mihalich first season ends at 10-23 (5-11), but there is help coming for the Pride that should help make them a top tier team in the CAA in 2014-15.
Stony Brook 80, Maine 54: None of the America East quarterfinals were particularly close. Jameel Warney scored 15 points, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked four shots a day after being named the America East Player of the Year. Carson Puriefoy added 14 and Dave Coley 13. The Seawolves will take on Hartford, a 69-42 winner over Binghamton, in the semifinals tomorrow. The best part? Top seeded Vermont has to play Albany at SEFCU Arena. So there’s still a possibility of SBU hosting the tournament finals at Pritchard Gymnasium.
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