On Tuesday night, the Saint Joseph's Hawks faced a tough defeat at the hands of the College of Charleston Cougars. Rasheer Fleming scored a career-high 26 points and pulled in five rebounds, shooting 10-for-14 from the floor and making four three-pointers. Derek Simpson was also a key contributor, with 11 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Xzayvier Brown scored 14 points and has now reached double figures in 11 consecutive contests dating back to last year. Justice Ajogbor had a more complete game with six points, six rebounds, and three blocks. Additionally, Brown and Erik Reynolds II each had six assists, marking the first time since at least the 2005-06 season that SJU had three players with at least six assists in the same game.

How the Game Unfolded

The Hawks got off to a strong start with an 8-0 lead as Simpson and Brown hit three-pointers sandwiching a layup from Fleming. The defense was solid as well, forcing Charleston to miss its first five shots. Charleston gradually fought back and cut the lead to a point on several occasions, but the Hawks maintained their lead heading into the under-8 timeout.Coming out of the break, Saint Joseph's took control, scoring eight points in just 98 seconds to go up 34-25 on a layup by Ajogbor with 5:12 remaining in the half. They maintained the edge and held a seven-point lead at halftime.In the second half, St. Joe's scored the first bucket but the Cougars responded with an 8-2 run to cut the lead to 47-44. However, the Hawks went on a 10-2 run, with five points coming from Dasear Haskins, extending their lead to 63-52 at the 11:35 mark. Once again, Charleston fought back and put up eight in a row to cut the lead to three with eight minutes remaining. Unfortunately, they were able to hold on for the victory.

Up Next for Saint Joseph's

The Saint Joseph's Hawks do not have a weekend game and will return to action on Wednesday, December 18, taking on the American University Eagles. Tipoff from Hagan Arena is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. This upcoming game will give the Hawks a chance to bounce back and showcase their skills on the court.