PHILADELPHIA – Ronald Roberts, Jr. scored a career-high 27 points, on 10-of-11 shooting from the field, to lead Saint Joseph’s to a 77-63 win over Dayton at Hagan Arena. Roberts scored the Hawks’ final 15  points of the game as they defeated the first-place team in the Atlantic 10 and ended a three-game losing streak.

Saint Joseph’s (13-8; 3-3 A-10) had four players in double figures as C.J. Aiken scored 14 and posted five blocks, Halil Kanacevic had 13 points and Langston Galloway had 10 points. Carl Jones handed out a career-high eight assists as the Hawks had a season-high 24 assists to just five turnovers.

Saint Joseph’s shot 70 percent in the second half to erase Dayton’s 32-27 halftime lead. After tying the game 43-43 on a layup by Roberts at 15:19, the Hawks would use a 17-3 run to open up their biggest lead of the game, 60-46 on a jumper by Galloway at 8:40.

Roberts started his 15-point run with a layup at 5:33 and although Dayton came within nine points three times, the sophomore kept answering back to keep SJU’s lead in double digits. Roberts accentuated the performance with a windmill dunk and ensuing free throw at 2:28 that built the Hawks’ lead back up to 73-59.

“Ron is a starter – he just doesn’t get his name called at the beginning of the game. Ron is an unbelievable listener and really takes it to heart whatever we bring to his attention. In that kind of situation, to shoot the fouls he did, 7-for-9 because people are just going to take him out at the rim,” said Hawk coach Phil Martelli. “I think you’re talking about a guy that’s in the conversation and probably is a leading candidate for “Sixth Man of the Year” in a magnificent league. Some guys would pout but that’s not the way he’s been raised. He’s really a special young guy and I’m delighted for him to have success because he is such a good person.”

Dayton led for most of the first half, with the biggest lead being five points. The Flyers held SJU to shooting just 1-for-12 from three-point range and outrebounded the Hawks, 27-16, in the period.

Dayton (14-6; 4-2 A-10) was led by Chris Johnson and Kevin Dillard with 17 points apiece.

Teammate Lindsay Taylor (Los Altos, Calif.), like Noyola a finalist for the Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy, was a first-team selection along with Camille Levin (Newport, Calif.), while Emily Oliver (Flossmoor, Ill.) was a third-team choice.

Sydney Leroux (UCLA/Vancouver, B.C.) and Ingrid Wells (Georgetown/Upper Montclair, N.J.) joined Noyola in earning a third selection to the squad. A total of 17 players were repeat honorees. Florida State and Memphis each placed three players on the team, while Boston University, Duke, Florida, Hartford, La Salle, Oklahoma State, Penn State, Santa Clara, UCLA, Virginia and Wake Forest had two representatives.

The 49 athletes will be recognized at the annual All-America Luncheon, to be held in the Kansas City Convention Center’s Grand Ballroom on Saturday, Jan. 14, in conjunction with the 2012 NSCAA Convention in Kansas City, Mo.

AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast

A trip to the Sweet Sixteen is on the line when the Colonial Athletic Association collides with the  Big Ten in the Second City.

The No. 3 seed in the Southwest Region, Purdue will face VCU on Sunday for the right to advance to the Sweet 16
in San Antonio … Purdue is one of fi ve teams in the nation that has qualifi ed for the Sweet 16 in each of the last two
seasons … The Boilermakers have never faced VCU on the hardwood … Purdue defeated Saint Peter’s on Friday to
extend its nation-best streak of NCAA Tournament-opening wins to 13 games … The Boilermakers are 34-24 (.586) all-time in the NCAA Tournament … The Old Gold & Black is 3-0 in NCAA Tournament play in Chicago, 3-3 as a No. 3 seed in the Big Dance and 2-2 in tournament games against No. 11 seeds.

When Joey Rodriguez, Brandon Rozzell and Ed Nixon arrived on the campus of VCU back in 2007, one of their goals was to take the program somewhere it’s never been, the Sweet 16. On Sunday evening in the house that Michael Jordan built, the trio will get their chance when they matchup against the third-seeded Boilermakers of Purdue University in the third round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament. 40 minutes for a right to play in the Sweet 16 in San Antonio next weekend. Nothing else needs to be said.

Rams continue NCAA tournament charge in clash with Boilermakers

VCU prepares for their game against Purdue

Boilermakers under pressure from motivated Rams

VCU roster

2010-11 PURDUE ROSTER
No. Name ………..Pos…….. Cl….. Ht…… Wt….. PPG…. RPG…. APG
0 Terone Johnson G ………Fr…… 6-2 …211….. 4.9….. 2.5…… 1.7
1 Anthony Johnson G …….Fr. ….6-3…. 175
2 Bubba Day ………G ………Jr….. 6-0…. 185….. 0.7….. 0.2….. 0.0
4 Robbie Hummel F Sr. 6-8 228
12 Kelsey Barlow .G ……….So…… 6-5… 193…… 5.1….. 2.9….. 1.6
14 Dru Anthrop ….G ………So…… 6-0 …175…… 0.4…. 0.2….. 0.2
21 D.J. Byrd ……..G/F……. So. ….6-5….. 225…… 5.2…. 3.0….. 1.8
23 Lewis Jackson G ………..Jr….. 5-9 ……165…… 7.9… 3.2…… 3.9
24 Ryne Smith G ……………Jr…… 6-3….. 190……. 5.8… 2.5….. 1.7
25 JaJuan Johnson F/C ….Sr….. 6-10….. 221….. 20.4.. 8.4…… 1.0
32 John Hart G ……………..So……. 6-2…. 196…….. 4.0… 1.1….. 0.7
33 E’Twaun Moore G ……..Sr…….. 6-4….. 191……. 18.2.. 5.1….. 3.1
41 Patrick Bade F ………….So…….. 6-8…. 229…….. 0.8… 1.5….. 0.1
50 Travis Carroll F ………..Fr…….. 6-9…. 230……… 1.3… 1.9…. 0.3
55 Sandi Marcius F ………R-Fr……. 6-9…. 257…….. 1.0…. 1.6…. 0.1

Purdue ……………………………Category …………………………………………….VCU
72.4 …………………………….Points per Game …………………………………….. 71.2
60.9 ……………………….Opponent Points per Game …………………………. 66.5
.447 …………………………. Field Goal Percentage ……………………………… .432
.409 …………………….Opponent Field Goal Percentage………………………. .449
.366 …………………….Three-Point Field Goal Percentage …………………….. .363
.324 …………………..Opponent Three-Point Field Goal Percentage …………. .344
6.9 …………………………Three-Point Field Goals per Game ……………………. 8.3
4.9 …………………….Opponent Three-Point Field Goals per Game …………… 5.5
.715 ……………………………Free Throw Percentage …………………………. .715
+2.0 …………………………….. Rebound Margin …………………………………-3.4
4.1 ………………………………Blocks per Game ……………………………….. 3.7
6.3 …………………………………Steals per Game ……………………………… 8.4
15.7 ……………………………… Assists per Game ……………………………. 14.1
10.5 ……………………………Turnovers per Game ………………………. 11.3
17.9 ……………………………….Fouls per Game ……………………………. 18.3

Notes courtesy of vcuathletics.com and purduesports.com

A trip to the Sweet Sixteen is on the line when the WCC clashes with the MWC (future WCC) in the Mile High City.

Bulldogs and Cougars meet in Southeast Regional clash

BYU faces streaking Gonzaga in round of 32

BYU’s Emery adds more than most see

Gonzaga’s turn to try to tame Jimmer Fredette

Kinda like Zags of lore, and kinda not

No. 11 Seed GONZAGA UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS (25-9; 11-3 West Coast)

G – 3 Demetri Goodson, 6-0, 175, Jr., Spring, TX (5.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.6 assists, 0.7 steals)

G – 2 Marquise Carter, 6-4, 178, Jr., San Diego, CA (6.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals)

G – 41 Steven Gray, 6-5, 205, Sr., Irondale, WA (13.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.9 assists, 1.7 steals)

C – 00 Robert Sacre, 7-0, 260, Jr., North Vancouver, B.C. (12.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.2 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.8 blocks)

F – 20 Elias Harris, 6-7, 245, So., Speyer, Germany (12.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.4 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.3 blocks)

HEAD COACH: Mark Few (University of Oregon, 1987) GONZAGA RECORD: 316-82 (12th year – 22nd at GU) CAREER RECORD: Same

No. 3 Seed BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY COUGARS (31-4; 14-2 Mountain West)

G – 4 Emory Jackson, 6-3, 190, Sr., Alpine, UT (12.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.6 assists, 2.7 steals)

G – 31 Kyle Collinsworth, 6-9, 235, So., Provo, UT (5.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.1 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.4 blocks)

G – 32 Jimmer Fredette, 6-2, 195, Sr., Glens Falls, NY (28.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.3 assists, 1.3 steals)

F – 1 Charles Abouo, 6-5, 215, Jr., Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire (7.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 0.8 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.3 blocks)

F – 34 Noah Hartsock, 6-8, 230, Jr., Bartlesville, OK (8.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.6 assists, 0.5 steals, 1.7 blocks)

HEAD COACH: Dave Rose (Houston, 1983) BYU RECORD: 158-44 (6th year) CAREER RECORD: Same. GAMES PRIOR TO GONZAGA: None.

This is the first time Gonzaga University has been a No. 11 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The lowest seed the Bulldogs have ever been is a 14 in their first appearance in 1995 when No. 3 University of Maryland took an 87-63 victory. Gonzaga has been a No. 12 seed once and a No. 10 seed three times for their other double-digit seeds. The best seed the Bulldogs have had was a No. 2 seed in 2004. Gonzaga was a No. 3 seed in back-to- back years of 2005-06.

Saturday’s game between No. 11 seed Gonzaga University and No. 3 seed Brigham Young has plenty of story lines. The much-heralded move for BYU from the Mountain West Conference to the West Coast Conference had several
bystanders looking ahead to this match-up since Selection Sunday. The Cougars will officially leave the MWC June 30 and will move into the WCC in every sport the Cougars currently offer with the exception of football. BYU will
become an independent in football.

— This season marks BYU’s 26th NCAA Tournament appearance in the program’s history. The Cougars have a 13-28 record in the NCAA Tournament.
— This season marks BYU’s second NCAA appearance in Denver. In 2004 the Cougars were a No. 12 seed and lost to No. 5 seed Syracuse 80-75.
— BYU has gone to the NCAA Tournament eight out of the last 11 seasons (2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011). BYU has earned a postseason tournament invite in 11 of the last 12 years (NIT in 2000, 2002, 2006).
— By earning a No. 3 seed in 2011, the Cougars matched their best seed in program history. BYU was also a No. 3 seed in 1980. BYU was a No. 4 seed in 1988. Other single-digit seeds included being a No. 5 seed in 1979, a No. 6 seed in 1981 (the year the Cougars advanced to the Elite Eight), a No. 7 seed in 1993 and 2010, and No. 8 seeds in 1984, 1995, 2007, 2008 and 2009. BYU has been a No. 12 seed in 2001, 2003 and 2004.
— BYU’s 99-92 win over Florida in double overtime

Comparing the Stats — BYU vs. Gonzaga
Season Averages Overall    BYU Gonzaga
Points Scored/Game 81.4 77.0
Points Allowed/Game 67.5 65.2
Rebounds/Game 38.7 37.6
Rebounds Allowed/Game 35.4 27.6
Assists/Game 14.5 15.4
Steals/Game 7.9 6.8
Blocks/Game 4.1 3.7
Turnovers 11.0 13.5
FG Percentage .451 .480
FG Percentage Defense .413 .400
3FG Percentage .360 .373
3FG/Game 8.2 5.9
3FG Percentage Defense .329 .359
FT Percentage .761 .760

Notes courtesy of gozags.com and byucougars.com

AP Photo/Phil Coale

The 9^th ranked, 5-1 Florida State Seminoles of coach Bobby Bowden provided the Homecoming opposition for the top-ranked, 5-0 Miami Hurricanes & coach Larry Coker.  Miami had taken The Belt from Florida State 2 years earlier in the game known as “Wide Right III” & had easily won the rematch last season but now the Seminoles hoped to end the 24-game Belt reign of the Hurricanes.  Florida State again suffered a missed field goal attempt that could have won the game as Miami held on for a 28-27 victory.  After a Florida State punt, Miami took their opening drive 89 yards with All-American RB Willis McGahee scoring from 4 yards giving the Hurricanes a 7-0 lead.  Neither team was able to score the rest of the 1^st quarter.  After recovering a fumble by Miami’s All-Big East QB Ken Dorsey at their 16-yard line, Florida State drove 84 yards in 4 plays with RB Nick Maddox scoring on a 30-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7-7.  Seminoles’ PK Xavier Beitia’s 45-yard field goal gave Florida State a 10-7 lead & a 10-yard touchdown pass from QB Chris Rix to WR Talman Gardner put the Seminoles up 17-7.  Miami took their next possession 80 yards in 12 plays in 2:08 with Dorsey connecting with All-Big East TE Kellen Winslow, Jr. on a 5-yard touchdown pass as the teams went to intermission with Florida State leading 17-14.  The Seminoles got the only 3^rd quarter points on a 42-yard field goal by Beitia.  With 11:44 to play, Florida State’s RB Greg Jones scored on an 11-yard run & the Seminoles had a 27-14 advantage.  Miami’s belt reign was in jeopardy but the Hurricanes would not go away without a fight.  After exchanging punts, Dorsey lead a 70-yard drive hitting WR Kevin Beard for a 2-yard touchdown with 8:10 to play making the score Florida State 27, Miami 21.  Miami’s defense forced a Seminoles’ punt on their next possession & the Hurricanes went 79 yards in 2 plays – a 68-yard screen pass from Dorsey to McGahee & 11-yard touchdown run from RB Jason Geathers giving Miami a 28-27 lead.  Each team punted again & Florida State took possession at their own 46-yard line with 2:05 to play.  Seven plays later, the Seminoles set-up for the winning field goal at the Miami 25-yard line as time was expiring.  Beitia’s 43-yard field goal attempt was wide left & Miami had held on for a 28-27 victory.  Dorsey finished with 362 yards passing with 2 touchdowns & 2 interceptions.  For Florida State, Rix threw for just 83 yards with a touchdown while Jones finished with 189 yards rushing with a touchdown in the losing effort.  Miami finished the season 12-1; Big East Champions, ranked 2^ndnationally while the Seminoles finished 9-5, ACC Champions, & ranked 21^st nationally.  Florida State has not played for The Belt again.

The College Football Belt