- Saint Joseph's extends winning streak to six games with OT victory
- Erik Reynolds II scores 6 critical points in overtime period
- Hawks overcome 9-point second-half deficit to force extra time
The Saint Joseph's Hawks delivered a March Madness-worthy performance Friday, overcoming third-seeded Dayton in a 73-68 overtime thriller at the Atlantic 10 Tournament. Sixth-seeded SJU (22-11) showcased tournament toughness, erasing a second-half deficit before dominating the extra period behind clutch plays from junior guard Erik Reynolds II.
Reynolds' 21-point performance highlighted a balanced offensive attack, with backcourt mate Xzayvier Brown adding 20 points on perfect free-throw shooting. The Hawks' victory continues their late-season surge, marking their first A-10 semifinal appearance since 2016. This upset follows a growing trend of mid-major programs investing in experienced guards for postseason success.
Dayton (22-10) suffered their earliest conference tournament exit since 2018 despite Amael L'Etang's 15-point, 6-rebound effort. The Flyers' offense stalled in critical moments, shooting just 38% from the field after halftime. Analysts note this loss could impact Dayton's NCAA Tournament seeding, while Saint Joseph's suddenly emerges as a potential bracket-buster.
Regional sports historians drew parallels to SJU's 2014 A-10 championship run, where similar defensive intensity propelled the Hawks to an NCAA bid. Current head coach Billy Lange has implemented a modern pace-and-space system that produced 18 three-point attempts in this contest. This strategic evolution positions Saint Joseph's as a program to watch in future conference realignment discussions.