St. Joe’s topples Bucknell thanks to Demery’s 20

PHILADELPHIA » James Demery scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds as Saint Joseph’s beat Bucknell 83-70 Wednesday night.

Demery was 8 of 18 from the field for the Hawks (4-3). Shavar Newkirk added 19 points, 10 rebounds and six assists and Chris Clover had 17 points while Pierfrancesco Oliva grabbed 10 rebounds.

The team averaged 41 percent shooting from the field compared to 34 percent for Bucknell.

The Hawks took an early lead and a Robinson layup gave them a 27-16 advantage with 7:06 left in the first half. They were up 40-27 at the break.

Saint Joseph’s led by double figures throughout the second half and Taylor Funk sank a layup and a 3-pointer back-to-back to stretch it to 60-39 with 11:23 to play.

Nana Foulland scored 17 points and had 10 rebounds for the Bison (3-5). Zach Thomas added 15 points and led the team with a career-best 19 rebounds. DREXEL 68, LAFAYETTE 67 » Austin Williams slammed home the winning points on a dunk with 13 seconds left to play and then blocked a shot at the other end as Drexel held on for a win over Lafayette.

Tramaine Isabell led the Dragons, who were playing their first home game since Nov. 13, with 19 points and Williams added 15plus 10 rebounds and blocked three shots. Alihan Demir and Sammy Mojica scored 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Lafayette, playing a fifth straight road game, took the 67-66 lead when Justin Jaworski scored and was fouled, converting the 3-point play. Isabell missed a 3-point attempt on Drexel’s next possession but Mojica rebounded and dished to Williams for the slam.

Williams blocked a Jaworski jump shot with six seconds remaining and the Leopards missed twice more as time expired.

The win ended a three-game skid for Drexel (3-4). Lafayette (06) has lost its last two games by a combined five points.