DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Drop Heartbreaker At The Palestra
12/21/2002 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
Boxscore
PHILADELPHIA -- St. Joseph’s All-American guard Jameer Nelson scored 21 points while Delonte West added 19 as the Hawks nipped DePaul 65-62 on Saturday at The Palestra.
The loss dropped DePaul to 5-2 while St. Joseph’s improved to 7-0.
DePaul led 48-42 with 9:55 remaining but the Hawks used a 9-0 run with Nelson on the bench with four fouls midway through the second half to erase the Blue Demon advantage.
DePaul cut the lead to one several times in the frentic closing minutes, including 55-54 at the 4:58 mark. But Nelson scored eight of the last ten Hawk points to seal the victory.
Nelson did leave the door open for DePaul, who cut the lead to 65-62 with just 15 seconds to go as Drake Diener made a NBA range three. The point guard was fouled and missed both free throws but made a steal at midcourt with nine seconds to go to seal the win for St. Joesph’s.
Delonte Holland and Quemont Greer paced DePaul with 15 points each while Diener added 11 points and a game-high six assits.
The Blue Demons will be off for a week before Seton Hall comes to the Allstate Arena on Saturday, December 28 at 1 p.m. in a game that will be televised by Fox Sports Chicago.