<CENTER>Saint Joseph's (24-11) vs. South Carolina (19-13)
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<CENTER></CENTER>The Sports Network
DATE & TIME: Thursday, March 31st, 7:00 p.m. (et).
FACTS & STATS: Site: Madison Square Garden (19,763) -- New York, New York.
Television: ESPN. NIT Record: Saint Joseph's 15-12, South Carolina 15-8.
Series Record: South Carolina leads, 6-1
GAME NOTES: Now with more postseason wins than in any previous campaign, the
Saint Joseph's Hawks reach for the big prize tonight as they compete against
the South Carolina Gamecocks for the NIT crown from Madison Square Garden. On
Tuesday night the Hawks won their fifth game of the postseason with a 70-58
victory over Memphis in New York. In addition to the triumph two nights ago,
Saint Joseph's has also beaten Hofstra, Buffalo, Holy Cross and Texas A&M in
the 68th annual event. Overall the Hawks are 15-12 in the NIT and previously
lost to Nebraska in the title game, 60-56, back in 1996. South Carolina gained
access to the title match by defeating the Maryland Terrapins on Tuesday night
by a final of 75-67. USC, which still trails in the all-time series with the
Terps (31-27), has captured eight of nine decisions on neutral floors versus
Maryland over the years. For the Gamecocks, the road to Madison Square Garden
has also included victories over Miami-Florida, UNLV and Georgetown, all at
home in Columbia. This is the second NIT final in the last four seasons for
the squad and they are more than happy to be suiting up against Saint Joseph's
rather than Memphis. In 2002, South Carolina (15-8 in the event) was forced
from the NIT championship game by the same Tigers and last year the Gamecocks
were tossed from the NCAA Tournament by Memphis as well. As far as the all-
time series between these two schools is concerned, USC won the first six
meetings. However, Saint Joseph's finally put one in the win column in the
last meeting, a 71-64 decision in 1999.
Head coach Phil Martelli continues to sing the praises of sharpshooter Pat
Carroll, and for good reason. On Tuesday, Carroll knocked down 6-of-9 attempts
from behind the three-point line, finishing with a team-high 24 points to lead
four players in double figures as the Hawks soared over the Tigers. Carroll
has now converted 133 three-point field goals this season, more than any other
player in college basketball. While Carroll was keeping Memphis busy out on
the perimeter, Dwayne Jones was sneaking into the paint and clearing a game-
high 14 rebounds to go along with his 13 points and four blocked shots.
Although he had a rough outing, hitting just 2-of-10 from the field, Chet
Stachitas still finished with 11 points, followed by Dwayne Lee (1-of-7 from
the field) who chipped in with 10 points and seven of the unit's 15 assists.
Carroll, who has led the team in scoring in 10 of the last 11 outings, is now
shooting better from three-point range (.446) than he is from the field
overall (.444). His 18.4 ppg is supplemented by 10.8 and 10.1 ppg from
Stachitas and Jones, respectively. Jones, who was recognized as the top
defender in the A-10 this year, adds team-highs with 11.7 rpg and a total of
105 blocked shots as a force in the paint.
As had been the case in every other NIT game for the Terps, they trailed at
halftime against South Carolina two nights ago, but in this instance the
Gamecocks were not about to surrender their advantage and cruised to the win
instead. Carlos Powell registered a double-double for the Gamecocks with 17
points and 12 boards, while Josh Gonner contributed 11 of his 12 points in the
first half to help the squad build a lead that it would not relinquish.
Although South Carolina had shot at least 40 percent from the floor in 19
straight outings heading into the SEC Tournament, the Gamecocks were limited
to just 37.5 percent from the field against Maryland. But more importantly for
USC, the team hit its free throws at the right time (25-of-40), even though it
was one of the worst in all of Division I basketball this season at just 60.9
percent heading into the tussle with the Terps. After 32 games this season
Powell, the only one to have started every one of those contests, is also the
only player scoring in double figures on a consistent basis with 16.4 ppg.
Powell, who is averaging a team-high 12 field goal attempts per game, is also
the leader on the glass with better than six and a half boards per outing.
Many teams have overlooked the Hawks this season because they are not the
power that they were a year ago with a backcourt tandem that went in the first
round of the NBA Draft. However, those schools didn't count on Martelli
rallying his troops night in and night out, which is what will happen once
again in NYC as Saint Joseph's brings home the NIT crown.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Saint Joseph's 68, South Carolina 63