Dec 1, 2002
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Saint Joseph's pressure defense was enough to get theHawks a win in their home opener.
The Hawks (3-0) held Old Dominion (1-2) to 29-percent shooting in the 63-47win, while holding the Monarchs' leading scorer Rasheed Wright to 1-of-12shooting from the field.
"Our defense has been like that since Oct. 12, we have a real ability topressure the ball," Saint Joseph's coach Phil Martelli said. "Our goal thisyear is every time an opponent gets the ball, all he sees is one of our guysbetween him and the basket."
Jameer Nelson had 21 points and Delonte West added 13 points and ninerebounds for Saint Joseph's. Pat Carroll also had 11 points.
The Hawks, coming off a surprising 27-point win at Boston College and avictory at Canisius, are off to their best start since 1994.
Ricardo Marsh scored 16 points and Alex Loughton scored 14 for the Monarchs,who have lost all four times they have played against the Hawks on the road.
After Old Dominion scored seven of the first nine points of the second halfto tie the game at 30, the Hawks went on a 25-10 run, with Tyrone Barleyhitting a 3-pointer to make it 55-40.
The Monarchs cut the margin to 10 after a 3-point play by Marsh, but Nelsonscored eight of the next 10 points to extend the Hawks' lead to 16.
"Jameer Nelson's effect on the game was an across-the-board factor," OldDominion coach Blaine Taylor said.