St. Joseph’s Remains a Picture of Perfection

One home game. One road game. One more week for Saint Joseph’s to keep its streak going.

“We’re well aware of what is out there,” Coach Phil Martelli said Wednesday night after his second-ranked Hawks defeated Massachusetts, 83-58, at Amherst, Mass., to remain unbeaten. “A week from today, we could have a very special place in college basketball.”

Saint Joseph’s Jameer Nelson scored 17 of his 19 points in the first half, and Delonte West had 15 of his 23 in the second. Nelson had eight assists and West had seven rebounds for the Hawks (25-0, 14-0 Atlantic 10), who won by double figures for the sixth consecutive game and the 12th time in their last 14.

Top-ranked Stanford is also undefeated, 23-0 heading into its game tonight against Oregon State.

“We don’t worry about the streak, and we don’t worry about pressure,” said Tyrone Barley, who was four of four from three-point range for all 12 of his points.

“Staying unbeaten would be nice, but we think about continuing to play well. The rest will take care of itself.”

Rashaun Freeman scored 21 points for the Minutemen (9-16, 3-10), who lost their fifth consecutive game. Massachusetts jumped to an early lead and held it for 10 minutes in a bid to spoil Saint Joseph’s quest for a perfect season, but then the Hawk guards started shooting and the result was the same as it has been all season.

“They do it without throwing the ball into the post, ever,” Massachusetts Coach Steve Lappas said. “That’s hard to do 25 times in a row. They make outside shots all night. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that in all my years.”

Saint Joseph’s has already clinched the regular-season conference title, and the team needs two more victories to enter into the Atlantic 10 tournament unbeaten; no team has entered the NCAA tourney without a loss since Nevada Las Vegas in 1991.

The Hawks play at Rhode Island on Saturday with a chance to become the first Atlantic 10 team to start a season 26-0 since Massachusetts in 1995-96. The Hawks also have a home game against St. Bonaventure.

“We’re aware of that. But it doesn’t drive us,” Martelli said of the streak. “If you go in that locker room right now it’s the same as it’s been 24 other times.”

No. 7 Mississippi State 81, Louisiana State 58 -- The Bulldogs (22-2, 11-2 Southeastern) clinched their second consecutive West Division title by drilling the Tigers (17-7, 7-6) at Starkville, Miss.

No. 9 Kentucky 92, Tennessee 60 -- Kelenna Azubuike scored 17 points at Lexington, Ky., and the Wildcats (20-4, 10-3 SEC) were 11 of 19 from three-point range to rout the Volunteers (13-11, 5-8), who have lost nine of 12.

No. 11 Wake Forest 90, Florida State 87 -- Justin Gray scored a career-high 31 points, including the go-ahead three-point basket with 1:22 left in overtime, and the Demon Deacons (18-6, 8-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) rallied from a 17-point deficit to defeat the Seminoles (18-10, 6-8) at Winston-Salem, N.C.

No. 14 North Carolina State 79, No. 18 Georgia Tech 69 -- Julius Hodge scored 22 points at Atlanta as the Wolfpack (18-6, 10-3 ACC) pulled away from the Yellow Jackets (19-8, 6-7) down the stretch.

No. 15 Cincinnati 77, Saint Louis 52 -- James White scored a career-high 23 points and had 11 rebounds for his first career double-double to help the Bearcats (19-5, 10-3 Conference USA) to a rout of the Billikens (14-10, 7-6) at Cincinnati.

DePaul 60, No. 21 Louisville 58 -- Quemont Greer scored 19 points and made the go-ahead shot in overtime to lift the Blue Demons (16-8, 9-4 Conference USA) to their first victory at Louisville (17-7, 7-6) since 1986.

No. 22 Wisconsin 68, Penn State 45 -- Devin Harris scored 25 points at Madison, Wis., as the Badgers (18-6, 9-4 Big Ten) ended a two-game losing streak. The Nittany Lions (9-15, 3-10) have lost 22 consecutive conference road games.

No. 23 Illinois 78, Iowa 59 -- Dee Brown had 18 points and 10 assists at Iowa City to lead the Fighting Illini (19-5, 10-3 Big Ten) to their seventh consecutive victory. Jeff Horner led the Hawkeyes (14-10, 7-6) with 20 points.

OTHER GAMES

Vedran Vukusic scored 23 points at Evanston, Ill., as Northwestern (12-12, 7-6) defeated Indiana, 63-59. Bracey Wright scored 17 points for the Hoosiers (12-13, 6-8).... Tony Stockman had 21 points at Minneapolis to lead Ohio State (13-13, 5-8 Big Ten) past Minnesota, 70-59. The Golden Gophers are 2-12, 10-16.

Jake Sullivan scored 19 of his 24 points in the second half at Ames, Iowa, to help Iowa State (15-9, 6-7 Big 12) to a 75-69 victory over Kansas State (12-12, 4-9).... Antoine McGee scored seven of 10 points in overtime at Boulder, Colo., to lead Colorado (16-8, 8-5 Big 12) to a 94-87 victory over Oklahoma (16-8, 6-7).

Anthony Roberson’s three-point basket at Gainesville, Fla., triggered a 14-0 Florida run that helped the Gators (16-8, 7-6 SEC) to a 69-58 victory over South Carolina (20-7, 7-6).... Matt Freije scored 20 points and Vanderbilt (18-6, 7-6 SEC) defeated Mississippi, 77-65, to end an eight-game losing streak at Oxford, Miss. Aaron Harper had 29 points for Mississippi (12-12, 4-9).

Craig Smith helped spark a 17-0 run late in the second half at Boston that carried Boston College (19-8, 8-6 Big East) to a 56-48 victory over Virginia Tech (11-13, 4-9).... Daniel Gilbert scored 22 points at Amherst, N.Y., to help Buffalo (13-11, 8-7 Mid-American) to an 82-66 victory over Kent State (20-4, 13-2).