WORCESTER, Mass. – The storybook 2021-22 season has come to an end for the No. 9 University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's basketball team, which struggled on the offensive end in a 63-53 loss to the Lions of Penn State Harrisburg (PSH), in the 2022 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament First Round and Worcester Regional, held inside Harrington Auditorium on the campus of WPI, in Worcester, Mass. Friday afternoon.

USJ, who led by as many as seven points in the first half, never led in the second half, and was held to a program-low 53 points, finishing the season 26-2, one win shy of breaking the single-season record. The Blue Jays do however finish with the team's best winning percentage in a single season, but are now 0-2 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and 8-3 overall in postseason play.

Senior guard Jaecee Martin (Hartford, Conn.), who was coming off a career-high 31 points and 13 rebounds in the 2022 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship game, was held to just two points on 1-of-8 shooting from the floor. Martin did tie a game-high 10 rebounds and dished out a game-high nine assists, but the Blue Jays scoring was limited overall as the top four USJ scorers who came in averaging over 51 combined points per game, were held to just 22 on 8-of-39 shooting from the field (21%). Senior guard Chaylyn Martin (Hartford, Conn.) led the way for USJ with 15 points and six assists. He also hit two of his three three-point attempts.

For the Lions, it was a struggle for many parts of the game as well, but the team collectively came together even without senior forward Dylan Daniels (Clarksville, Md.), who entered Friday night as the second-best shot blocker in the country (3.96 BPG). Daniels shot a career-best 56.5% from the field this season, but missed the United East Championship game after playing just five minutes in the previous game, which the Lions won. Daniels did not play again Friday, but PSH still had five players in double figures as the supporting cast stepped up when it mattered most. Senior guard Donyae Baylor-Carroll (Harrisburg, Pa.) and senior forward Brandon Coleman (York, Pa.) were the high-men for Harrisburg with 12 points each. Nothing came easy for Baylor-Carroll, the top scorer on the team (18.0 PPG), who was held to 4-of-15 shooting and had a game-high eight turnovers, but his presence was enough to keep the Blue Jays from ever taking the lead down the stretch.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Penn St. Harrisburg 63, #9 Saint Joseph 53
Records: PSH (24-3), USJ (26-2)
Location: Harrington Auditorium | Worcester, Mass.
Notes: NCAA Tournament First Round

PLAYER QUOTE [Jaecee Martin]
"We practice and preach next play, but today we really lacked that. If I could go back I would slow the game down and play at my speed. I think they sped me up and I wasn't able to get to my spots. Having the experience is always great, I am glad the underclassmen saw and felt the environment of the tournament. When their time comes, they should be ready."

PLAYER QUOTE [Jordan Powell]
"I was just speeding things up a little bit instead of being patient. They had length. If we had just stayed with what we did best all year, we would have had a better outcome. The only word I can use to describe this entire Saint Joseph experience is blessed. I have been across the country, and to be able to finish my college career here with Coach Miller alongside some of my former high school rivals was a blessing. Now we are like brothers. It hurts, it really hurts right now, but once you put it into perspective, I am just happy to have had this opportunity. This was an incredible experience to be in the NCAA Tournament."

COACH QUOTE [Glen Miller]
"We had a tremendous year. It was a tough way to end it, but a lot to be proud of. We started the program four years ago, and these guys have contributed a lot to our quick growth, and all of our success. We came out and played tremendous defense until about 6:00 left in the first half. Then we missed a few assignments and went on a run. Coming into the game I was worried about attacking their zone, which they play really well. We were just never able to get a good flow going offensively, and that was the game."

PLAY-BY-PLAY
The Lions came out right away in a 2-3 zone in an attempt to keep USJ out on the perimeter, backing way off JC, Chaylyn, and others behind the arc. It caused a lot of problems in the first four minutes, with the Blue Jays turning it over four times and missing their first four shots. Senior guard Ryan O'Neill (Litchfield, Conn.) finally got the scoring going for USJ on a corner three, before JC got out in transition and blew by the defense for a layup. 5-4 USJ with 15:49 to go in the first half.

The sheer athleticism and agility of the Blue Jays paid off early on as JC took two quick charges in an effort to shift the momentum. It only sparked Saint Joseph's individual defense, which looked outstanding in the early going. The Blue Jays utilized a switching man-to-man defense that caused confusion for PSH, which threw a few passes away in the process. Saint Joseph capitalized and found its offensive rhythm, going on a 14-4 run to regain the edge, 14-8, with 10:44 to go in the first half.

Saint Joseph consistently executed its game plan on offense, hitting the middle of the zone, but made things difficult by driving into the length of the Lions and trying to finish around the rim instead of taking the first shot, the open shot. It was a real offensive struggle on both sides of the aisle, as three times in the first nine minutes the Lions were forced to fire an ill-advised jumper as the shot clock expired. The best offense for PSH was on an offensive rebound until the seven-minute mark of the half.

First 13 Minutes – NCAA First Round

                        PSH     USJ

FG                   5-20     7-23

3FG                  0-8       2-3

TO                    6          4

JC was everywhere on both ends for USJ and played through the offensive struggles, even blocking a three pointer into the second row to keep the Blue Jays in front, 16-11 with 7:04 remaining in the first half.

Chaylyn was put primarily on Baylor-Carroll in the first half, along with a mix of brother JC. Baylor-Carroll's first half was one to forget (0-5 FG, 6 TO and 2 Fouls), before finally hitting his first three with 3:34 left in the first half. He wound up hitting his last two shots of the period.

The Lions were active inside, crashing the offensive glass and igniting their outside game. The Blue Jays faded to close the half, unable to get anything going in rhythm. Harrisburg closed the stanza on a 12-2 run and found their three-point game, hitting on all three of their longballs in the final four minutes to take a 30-26 lead into the half and stealing the momentum. Both teams were held under 40% shooting in the first half with a combined five free throws total. Senior guard Zegary Scott III (Jersey City, N.J.) had all 11 of his points in the first half to lead all scorers, the only player in double-figures. Chaylyn led the way for USJ with eight.

USJ came out of the locker room with energy, matching its total fast break points that it had in the entire first half (4) in the first two minutes. It started with a thunderous dunk from senior forward Jordan Powell(Middletown, Conn.) on a 2-on-1 situation with JC connecting for his sixth assist. It ended with a Chaylyn and-one.

The power of the three-point shot was on display in Worcester, as the Lions went back to doing what they do best, knock down the tre (8.4 3FG per game, best in the United East). After missing its first nine attempts from long range, Harrisburg made seven of its next 12 to stem the tide. USJ went to work inside, but PSH still led by five, 40-35, with 15:33 to go in the second half.

USJ turned to its full-court man-to-man defense at the 15:40 mark, and it quickly took the Lions off guard. Baylor-Carroll picked up his third foul on a charge in the back court, and Samuels slashed to the rim to cut it to one, 40-39, with 14:41 to go in the ball game.

The offensive struggles returned as both defenses clamped down on the opposing team's halftime adjustments. A few tough shots fell on both sides, but the Blue Jays just could not find a consistent three-point presence other than Chaylyn, who hit his second three of the game to keep the score close, 47-43 Lions with 10:17 remaining in the game.

Mitchell finally got things going with a huge three to cut the lead in half, 51-48, with minutes to play. Mitchell then switched out on Baylor-Carroll and forced a turnover late in the shot clock. It was clear this was the Blue Jays best chance, but Saint Joseph could not string together enough scores to flip the score in their favor in the second half. USJ tied the game at 32 early in the period, but never led, as Baylor-Carroll made a few in-between buckets to ice it for the Lions, who advance to the NCAA Second Round for the second-straight season.

UP NEXT
The season comes to an end for USJ, which finished 26-2 overall and registered the best winning percentage in a season in program history. The 26 wins ties for the most wins in a season, and the 26-2 mark is also the third-best single-season record by a men's basketball team in the history of the GNAC (Albertus Magnus, 28-2 in 2014-15 and 2011-12). Check back on all things men's hoops during the offseason at www.usjbluejays.com. 

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