St. Joe’s had beaten Temple twice already this season, including a 92-76 whipping Feb. 22. The Owls looked like they were seeking revenge as they controlled the first thirty minutes of the game by keeping St. Joe’s Ahmed Nivens out of the paint with a double team, while hitting their 3-balls. Although the A-10’s leading scorer, the Owl’s Dionte Christmas (7 points) was in a St. Joe’s designed funk, the Owls got unexpected offensive help from freshman Ryan Brooks (15 points, 10 in the first half), along with the usual contributions from Dustin Salisbery and Mark Tyndale.
Down nine with 12 minutes to play, the Hawks began making their move as their energetic freshmen guards Jawan Carter (10 points during the comeback), Darrin Govens, and Garrett Williamson began controlling the tempo, forcing turnovers and quick shots, and getting Nivens (18 points, 11 rebounds) the ball inside. The Hawks also controlled the backboards. Once the Hawks regained the lead, it was foul shooting in the final 90 seconds that sealed the deal for St. Joe’s with Pat Calathes going four of four and Govens and Carter hitting two foul shots each.
In the other entertaining opening round games at Boardwalk Hall, Fordam held off upset-minded Richmond 63-61; the Dayton Flyers flew by Charlotte 81-63, and the pesky, full court press of the undermanned Duquesne Dukes made for an entertaining battle against the St. Louis Billikens 78-77. As a southpaw, I appreciated the left-leaning Billikens led by lefty guards Kevin Lisch and Tommie Liddell, southpaw forward Luke Meyer and center Ian Vouyoukas, a righty equally comfortable using his left hand around the basket.

Today’s quarterfinal games are as follows:
Noon: Dayton vs. Xavier
2:30pm: Fordam vs. Rhode Island
6:30: St. Louis vs. UMass
9pm: St. Joe’s vs. George Washington