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A loss to Pacific
ended a seven-game winning streak for Saint Joseph's last season. There's much
more at stake for the Hawks this time around.
Undefeated Saint Joseph's looks to maintain its highest ranking since the 1965-66
season, and seeks a measure of revenge when it meets Pacific on Saturday.
The 10th-ranked Hawks have their highest in-season ranking in the AP Top 25 since March 8, 1966, when they were fifth. Saint Joseph's was ranked 10th in the 2000-01 preseason poll.
With eight straight wins to start the season, the Hawks will try to avoid another letdown against the Tigers (4-5). Ticketmaster. Saint Joe's won seven straight at the start of last season, but Pacific ended that run with a 62-50 victory on Dec. 28.
This is the Hawks'
longest winning streak since the 2000-01 season, when they won 10 straight.
Jameer Nelson hit a fadeaway jumper with 4.3 seconds left and finished with
19 points Saturday as Saint Joseph's remained unbeaten with a 59-57 win over
California in the Pete Newell Challenge.
Nelson, widely considered the top point guard in the country, had an electric double-clutch reverse lay-in with 6:22 remaining that tied it at 47, sparking a 10-4 run that gave the Hawks a cushion heading into the final minute.
Nelson averages 19.3 points, 6.3 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 3.8 steals for Saint Joseph's. Hawks coach Phil Martelli, however, contends the team wins because it plays with an unselfish attitude.
``This is not Jameer Nelson's show, it's a team,'' Martelli said.
Delonte West, the Hawks' second-leading scorer at 17.5 points per game, was limited to six points and four rebounds but had seven assists.
Pacific lost 73-72 to San Francisco on Tuesday for its third loss in four games.
Miah Davis topped the Tigers with 19 points, but missed the last of three free throws with 14.3 seconds left. Davis leads the team with 14.7 points per game.
Jasko Korajcik and Christian Maraker each had 13 for the Tigers. Maraker is the team's second-leading scorer, averaging 12 points per game.