St. Joseph’s basketball ends first half of season

College of St. Joseph Men’s and Women’s Basketball each finished their first half of the season this past week. The men’s team went 1-2 on the week, earning a big victory against conference foe NHTI Dec. 7. They then suffered two difficult losses to Juniata and Lynchburg in the Doc Greene Tournament held in Pennsylvania over the weekend. Men’s Basketball is now 6-7 on the season. The Lady Saints lost their only game of the week against NHTI on Wednesday by just under 20 points. After the loss, they still enter winter break with a solid 6-3 overall record.
They will not be back in action until Jan. 8 when they face SUNY Canton.
Dec. 7
Fighting Saints Men’s Basketball played in the opening game against NHTI on Wednesday night. The Saints were able to beat the 9-2 NHTI Lynx 99-81. Senior Kyle Houston had a breakout game for CSJ. He ended up with a team-high 24 points to go along with seven rebounds and four assists.
The Lady Saints were not as fortunate, losing in a one-sided affair to NHTI 86-67. CSJ could not seem to find a way to put the ball in the net, as they shot only 29 percent from the floor and an abysmal one for 22 from three-point range. Junior Alexius Brooks brought her energy and aggressiveness to the table, but it was not enough to make it close against the Lynx. She tallied 18 points and 17 rebounds for the Lady Saints.
Dec. 9
The men’s team traveled to Pennsylvania to play in the Doc Greene Tournament on Friday. They played Juniata in the opening game and were defeated 93-60. Kyle Houston was once again the bright spot for CSJ, as he scored a team-high 16 points. The rest of the club was not able to contribute much, only shooting 28 percent from the field collectively.
Dec. 10
The Saints played in a consolation game on Saturday against Lynchburg. Unfortunately, it had the same outcome, as CSJ fell 105-61 to a talented Lynchburg squad. Graduate student Tyrelle Appleton played well defensively for the Saints, coming up with a game-high three blocks to go along with eight points on offense.

Photo provided
College of St. Joseph’s Kyle Houston drives to the basket in recent action.