STANDISH, ME - St. Joe's led GNAC opponent Johnson and Wales 49-40 at halftime, but the Monks were unable to hold on to the lead as they lost 98-92 in OT on Saturday afternoon. JR Elbie Murphy (Loudonville, NY) scored 30 points for SJC in the loss. Seniors Greg Samuels (Philadelphia, PA) and Japhet Kerr (Mt. Kisco, NY) combined to score 63 points in the JWU win. St. Joe's falls to 8-5 in GNAC play and 10-10 overall while Johnson and Wales now holds an 11-4 conference and 14-7 overall record.

SJC used an 11-0 run that began at the thirteen-minute mark to stake an early 25-13 lead over the Wildcats. SO Alberto Rue (Jamaica Plain, MA) drained three 3-pointers during the Monks surge. JWU fired back quickly with treys from SR Tirone McCray (Brockton, MA) and Japhet Kerr to keep St. Joe's within striking distance.

SO Ray Eatmon (Huntington, NY) poured in 8 points in the final five minutes of the opening half to help put St. Joe's up 49-40 going into recess.

The Monks extended the lead to 13 points after FY Eric Friend (Portland, ME) sank a three-pointer three minutes into the second half. The Wildcats fired back by scoring 7 unanswered points to narrow the SJC lead back down to six points, 58-52, with 15 minutes remaining in regulation. SR Mitch Ouellet (Fort Kent, ME) made a three-pointer with three minutes left in the half to extend the Monks lead to eight points.

SR Charlie Ware (Baltimore, MD) made both charity stripe shots with 49 seconds remaining to tie the game at 84 apiece. SO Darren Faust (Queens, NY) grabbed a loose ball and dished to Greg Samuels, who converted on a jumper to provide the Wildcats with the team's first lead of the game with just 15 seconds remaining. Monks forward Ray Eatmon sank a jumpshot with 11 seconds left to tie the game and Elbie Murphy blocked a Japhet Kerr three-point bid on the following JWU possession to send the game into overtime.

JWU made the most of their chances in the final minutes, as the Wildcat shooters made both field goal shots and all eight free throw attempts.

Greg Samuels scored nine points off two 3-pointers and 3 free throws to help the Wildcats outscore the Monks 12-6 in the extra frame and earn the conference victory. SJC forward Elbie Murphy scored 4 points in overtime.

For Johnson and Wales, Japhet Kerr tallied a game-high 33 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds and 5 steals and Greg Samuels netted 30 points and 9 rebounds. Kerr made 6 three point shots and was 5-5 from the free throw line in the contest. Tireone McCray scored 15 points and Darren Faust added 12 points in the Wildcat victory.

Saint Joseph's forward Ray Eatmon posted a spectacular performance with 18 points and 16 boards to earn his 6th double-double of the season. Eric Friend scored 12 points and both Alberto Rue and Mitch Ouellet added 11 points in the losing effort.

The Monks will travel to Nashua, NH to take on conference counterpart Daniel Webster College on Tuesday, 2/12 for a 7:00 PM tip-off.



Johnson & Wales Univ vs St. Joseph's (Me.)
01/09/08 3:00 PM at Standish, Maine

JOHNSON & WALES UNIV 98, ST. JOSEPH'S (ME.) 92
JOHNSON & WALES UNIV (14-7, 11-4 GNAC)
Japhet Kerr 11-26 5-5 33; Greg Samuels 9-17 10-17 30; Tirone McCray 5-13 5-5
15; Darren Faust 5-13 0-1 12; Cornejo Rogers 3-5 0-0 6; Charlie Ware 0-0 2-2
2; Raymond Hamblin 0-0 0-0 0; Wacking Nicolas 0-0 0-0 0.
Totals 33-74 22-30 98.

ST. JOSEPH'S (ME.) (10-10, 8-5 GNAC)
Elbie Murphy 11-24 7-8 30; Raymond Eatmon 8-13 2-4 18; Eric Friend 4-10 2-2
12; Alberto Rue 4-8 0-0 11; Mitch Ouellet 4-7 2-4 11; Chris Davis 1-4 2-4 4;
Alonso Davis 2-3 0-0 4; Scot Vachon 1-4 0-3 2; Tyler Kelley 0-1 0-0 0; R.J.
Mattison 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 35-76 15-25 92.

Johnson & Wales Univ.......... 40 46 12 - 98
St. Joseph's (Me.)............ 49 37 6 - 92

3-point goals-
Johnson & Wales Univ 10-21 (Japhet Kerr 6-10; Greg Samuels 2-5; Darren Faust 2-6)
St. Joseph's (Me.) 7-20 (Alberto Rue 3-5; Eric Friend 2-4; Elbie Murphy 1-5; Mitch Ouellet 1-2; Scot Vachon 0-1; R.J. Mattison 0-1; Chris Davis 0-1; Raymond Eatmon 0-1)

Fouled out-
Johnson & Wales Univ-Tirone McCray, St. Joseph's (Me.)-None.

Rebounds-
Johnson & Wales Univ 41 (Greg Samuels 9)
St. Joseph's (Me.) 49 (Raymond Eatmon 16)

Assists-
Johnson & Wales Univ 20 (Japhet Kerr 9)
St. Joseph's (Me.) 17 (Scot Vachon 6)

Total fouls-
Johnson & Wales Univ 22, St. Joseph's (Me.) 25.

A-150.