Courtesy of The Morning Call March 3, 1960 via Newspapers.com
St. Joseph’s College closed its Middle Atlantic Conference campaign with the kind of late‑season authority that selection committees notice, brushing aside Lafayette, 78–66, Wednesday night in the tight quarters of Alumni Memorial Hall. The victory was the Hawks’ seventh straight and left them perched a half‑game ahead in the University Division standings as they await the committee’s decision on who will represent the conference in next week’s NCAA Eastern Regionals at Charlotte.
Hawks Strengthen Their Tournament Case
St. Joseph’s, now 19–5, finished league play at 7–1, their only blemish the upset loss to LaSalle. With the Explorers stumbling since that triumph and standing at 16–5 overall, sentiment around the conference leans heavily toward the Hawks receiving the NCAA bid. Their performance in Easton did nothing to weaken that argument.
Lafayette had given LaSalle a stiff battle earlier in the season, but St. Joseph’s handled the Leopards with far more ease. After spotting Lafayette a brief 7–4 lead, the Hawks rattled off eight straight points to take command at 12–7 and never trailed again. A late first‑half burst stretched the margin to 39–26 at intermission.
Egan Leads a Balanced, Relentless Attack
Jack Egan turned in one of his finest all‑around games of the year, scoring 22 points and setting the tone with six field goals in the opening half. His work on the boards, along with that of Vince Kempton (13 points) and Bob Clarke (10), gave St. Joseph’s a decisive advantage inside.
After the break, Bobby McNeill kept the Hawks rolling with 17 points, while Joe Gallo added 10 as Coach Jack Ramsey’s club steadily widened the gap to 70–50 before the reserves took over.
Defense Smothers Lafayette’s Star
The Hawks’ 1‑2‑2 zone was particularly effective against Lafayette’s Charles Ross, the sixth player in school history to surpass 1,000 career points. Ross entered the night averaging 22.9, but St. Joseph’s held him to just 11—a testament to the discipline and communication of the Hawks’ back line.
Pete Pavia, the Leopards’ quick 5‑9 junior, led the home team with 18 points, while sophomore Danny George contributed 14 in his best outing of the season. But Lafayette, finishing 12–13 overall and 6–7 in the conference, never mounted a sustained threat once St. Joseph’s settled into its rhythm.
Freshmen Add to the Night’s Momentum
In the preliminary, St. Joseph’s freshmen added to the school’s good fortune as Billy Hoy and Jimmy Lynam combined for 51 points in a 70–55 comeback win over the Lafayette Yearlings. Gene Deneham led the young Leopards with 20.
Looking Ahead
St. Joseph’s closes its regular season next Wednesday against Textile, a final tune‑up before the NCAA committee renders its decision. With momentum, record, and reputation all trending in their favor, the Hawks appear poised for a return to national tournament play.
Courtesy of The Philadelphia Inquirer March 3, 1960 via Newspapers.com