The Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament quarterfinals witnessed an exciting matchup where sixth-seeded Saint Joseph’s (PA) emerged victorious over third-seeded Dayton with a 73-68 win in a thrilling overtime contest. Erik Reynolds II was instrumental in the triumph, scoring 21 points including six crucial points during the overtime period. In addition to his scoring contributions, Reynolds also secured seven rebounds for the Hawks, who improved their record to 22-11.
The performance of the Hawks was bolstered by Xzayvier Brown, who poured in 20 points despite shooting 5 for 17 from the field, including 2 for 6 from beyond the arc, but excelled at the free-throw line by converting all eight of his attempts. He also matched Reynolds with seven rebounds. Derek Simpson added 11 points, hitting 3 out of 4 field goals, with a perfect 3 for 3 record from three-point range, and going 2 for 3 at the free-throw line. This victory extended Saint Joseph’s winning streak to six games.
For Dayton, Amael L’Etang put forward a robust effort, topping his team with 15 points, complemented by six rebounds and four blocks. Javon Bennett contributed 15 points, while Nate Santos achieved a notable double-double with 14 points and a substantial 15 rebounds.
Saint Joseph’s had built a 33-24 lead by halftime, with Reynolds leading the first-half scoring with 10 points. However, in the second half, Dayton managed to outscore Saint Joseph’s by nine points, resulting in a 60-60 tie at the end of regulation. Reynolds proved pivotal in the extra period, despite a modest shooting performance of 1 for 4 from the field, by scoring all six of Saint Joseph’s overtime points mainly from the free-throw line, hitting 4 out of 6 attempts.
