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Jack Medalie backs down Assumption defender at NCAA First Round
Jarod Minassian
81
Assumption ASM 17-13,11-7 NE10
92
Winner St. Anselm SA 24-7,14-4 NE10
Assumption ASM
17-13,11-7 NE10
81
Final
92
St. Anselm SA
24-7,14-4 NE10
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Assumption ASM 43 38 81
St. Anselm SA 41 51 92

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Medalie’s Big Second Half Lifts Men’s Basketball to Second Round of NCAA Tournament

AMHERST, N.Y.  – The No. 3-seeded Saint Anselm College men's basketball team won its first NCAA Division II Championship game in seven years, defeating No. 6 Assumption University, 92-81, in the First Round of the East Regional hosted by No. 1-seeded Daemen University at Lumsden Gymnasium on Saturday.
 
Highlights 
  • Saint Anselm improves to 19-29 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, this being the Hawks' 27th trip, and the first NCAA postseason win since 2019, when they won the East region.
  • This was the 138th all-time meeting between these two programs as Saint Anselm improves to 76-62 overall against Assumption in the series that began in 1936.
  • This was the Hawks and Greyhounds' second postseason matchup this season, and their first-ever meeting in the NCAA tournament. Overall, the Hawks are 6-3 against the Greyhounds in nine playoff matchups, including the NE10 tournament.
  • This is the seventh time the Hawks have eclipsed 24 wins (24-7) in a single season in program history and the first 24+ win season since reaching 26 in 2018-19.
  • Senior Josh Morissette went 5-6 from three-point range as he now holds the single-season record for three-pointers by a Hawk, knocking down 110 on the year. The senior guard passed John Nielsen '14 who had held the record since the 2013-14 season after hitting 106 threes.
  • Morissette scored a game-high 24 points, tallying at least 24 for the fifth straight game, also grabbing three rebounds with one assist and a steal, playing all 40 minutes.
  • Freshman Edward Onyia also played all 40 minutes, recording his fourth career double-double with 20 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. In four starts this season, Onyia is averaging 14.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in 34.5 minutes per game.
  • Junior Jack Medalie scored all 22 of his points in the second half, finishing 9-12 from the field with five rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal.
  • Sophomore Will Davies finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and made nine of his 14 free throw attempts.
  • Morissette, Medalie, and Onyia combined to go 16-16 from the free throw line, paced by Onyia, who went 8-8.
  • Saint Anselm shot nearly 60% from the field, going 28-47 (59.6%), while shooting 50% (6-12) from deep.
  • The Hawks went 30-38 from the free throw line, the most makes and attempts in a single game since they went 30-38 in a double overtime loss against Daemen on Dec. 31, 2023.
  • Saint Anselm outrebounded Assumption 41-24, but lost the turnover battle 17-4.
How it Happened
The Hawks made their first three shots of the game, including a pair of threes from Morissette, to take an early 9-5 lead. The score flipped in favor of the Greyhounds, as they made five of their next six shots to take a four-point lead, 16-12.
 
Saint Anselm continued to keep it close as Assumption's lead never grew to more than six, despite the Greyhounds leading for most of the half. Morissette and Onyia each had 14 points in the first as Saint Anselm trailed 43-41 after 20 minutes of play.
 
The Hawks quickly regained the lead early in the second half on a turnaround jumper from Medalie, but their lead would be short-lived as the Greyhounds went on a 9-2 run, leading by six, 53-47.
 
After Assumption went ahead by seven, 59-52, Morissette countered with a three-pointer from the top of the key to spark a 16-4 run with Medalie going on a tear, scoring 12 of the Hawks' 16 points as Saint Anselm led by five, 69-64.
 
The Greyhounds stayed within five, 75-70, but Morissette iced the game with a three-pointer as the Hawks held an eight-point lead, 78-70, with three minutes to play. Saint Anselm's advantage never fell below seven for the remainder of the game, securing the win, 92-81.
 
Up Next
The Saint Anselm men's basketball team (24-7, 14-4 NE10) will await the winner of No. 2 Felician University vs. No. 7 Adelphi University later today, with the Hawks playing in the NCAA Tournament Second Round tomorrow, Sunday, March 15, at 5 p.m. at Lumsden Gymnasium.

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