After a mid-December stumble, Saint Joseph’s men’s basketball team has surged back into Atlantic 10 contention, winning three straight conference games. The Hawks (10-8 overall) will face a significant test Monday when they travel to Richmond,Virginia,to take on the VCU rams,the A-10 preseason favorites. The 3:00 p.m. ET matchup will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network, as Saint Joseph’s seeks to snap an eight-game losing streak against VCU and secure thier first-ever win at the Siegel Center[[[[[1]]].
Game Info: Monday, January 19, 2026 – 3:00 p.m.
Location: Siegel Center – Richmond, Va.
TV: CBS Sports Network | Listen: sjuhawks.com | Live Stats: sjuhawks.com | Saint Joseph’s Game Notes | VCU Game Notes
Social Media
Twitter/X: @sjuhawks_mbb | Instagram: @sjuhawks_mbb
Opening Tip
Saint Joseph’s will be back in action on Monday, January 19, traveling to face Atlantic 10 preseason favorite VCU at the Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network.
Hawks Surge in A-10 Play
After a rocky start to conference play, Saint Joseph’s has found its rhythm, winning three straight games to climb into contention in the Atlantic 10 standings. The Hawks, previously tied for last at 0-2 in the league, now sit in a tie for fourth place as they pass the quarter mark of the season. This turnaround marks a significant shift for a team looking to make a statement in a competitive conference.
Double-Double Dominance
Saint Joseph’s is experiencing a surge in double-double performances. While last season saw 13 double-doubles from the team, the Hawks had only one through the first part of this season, courtesy of Justice Ajogbor on December 6 against Temple. However, the last three games have yielded four double-doubles, with Derek Simpson and Dasear Haskins each recording two. Simpson’s back-to-back double-doubles against Duquesne and Richmond were the first for a St. Joe’s player since Rasheer Fleming achieved the feat on January 3 and 8, 2025. Haskins’ standout performance on Wednesday against St. Bonaventure saw him set career highs with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Efficient at the Free Throw Line
St. Joe’s is shooting with precision from the free throw line, connecting on 14 of 16 attempts against St. Bonaventure for an 87.5% clip. This matches their season-high, equaling the mark set against Coppin State on December 9. The Hawks are second in the A-10 and 37th nationally in free throw percentage at 76.6%. Derek Simpson leads the way, ranking fifth in the Atlantic 10 at 90.5%, while Anthony Finkley (82.6%) and Austin Williford (80.0%) also feature among the conference leaders.
Protecting the Ball
Saint Joseph’s has dramatically improved its ball security, committing just two turnovers in the second half against St. Bonaventure. In conference games, the Hawks are averaging only 10.4 turnovers per game, a rate that would place them third in the A-10. This improvement comes after a stretch of nine games where they averaged 13.9 turnovers, the highest in the conference.
Haskins Finding His Stride
Dasear Haskins has emerged as a consistent performer for the Hawks, particularly over the last 10 games. The redshirt sophomore has scored in double figures in eight of those contests, averaging 11.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. His numbers have nearly doubled from last season, when he posted 5.7 points and 3.3 rebounds en route to earning A-10 All-Rookie Team honors.
Scouting VCU
- VCU enters Monday’s matchup with a 12-6 overall record and a 3-2 mark in the Atlantic 10, following an 84-75 victory at Rhode Island on Wednesday. The Rams were selected to win the conference in the A-10 preseason poll.
- Terrence Hill Jr. leads VCU’s offense, averaging 14.3 points per game off the bench, closely followed by Lazar Djokovic at 13.7 points per night. Jadrian Tracey contributes 10.1 points per game, and three-time A-10 Rookie of the Week Nyk Lewis adds 9.5 points per outing. Djokovic is the Rams’ leading rebounder with 5.6 per game.
- VCU boasts a strong shooting performance across the board, connecting on nearly 47% of their field goal attempts, ranking in the top 55 nationally. They shoot 36.6% from beyond the arc and over 74% from the free throw line. The Rams also benefit from a strong bench, averaging 37.22 bench points per game, eighth-most in NCAA Division I.
- VCU has struggled at times with defending the three-point shot and sending opponents to the free throw line. They are ninth in the A-10, allowing opponents to shoot 34.2% from beyond the arc, and 11th in the conference in fouls committed, averaging 18.1 per game, resulting in the second-most free throw attempts allowed in the league.
- Phil Martelli Jr. is in his first season as head coach of VCU, having previously spent two years at Bryant, where he led the Bulldogs to back-to-back 20-win seasons and an America East title.
All-Time Series
Monday’s contest marks the 19th meeting between Saint Joseph’s and VCU, with the Rams holding a 13-5 advantage. The Hawks are looking to snap an eight-game losing streak to VCU, dating back to January 3, 2018, and secure their first-ever win at the Siegel Center.
Last Meeting
Rasheer Fleming recorded 16 points and 14 rebounds, but Saint Joseph’s fell to VCU 78-69 on January 17, 2025. Erik Reynolds II added 12 points, and Derek Simpson chipped in with 11. SJU also committed a season-low six turnovers. A 20-10 run by the Rams gave them a 30-20 lead with six minutes remaining in the first half, and despite a late rally, VCU closed out the victory.
Hawks Win Despite Few Free Throws
SJU took just six free throws against Richmond, their second-lowest total of the season. It’s only the third time in the last 20 seasons that the Hawks have won a game while attempting six or fewer free throws, joining contests against American (6) on December 6, 2023, and Loyola Chicago (2) on December 22, 2018. Saint Joseph’s has also won two NCAA Tournament games with fewer than six free throw attempts, defeating Texas Tech in 2004 with five and upsetting No. 1 DePaul in 1981 with just four.
Simpson Reaches Milestone
With his second three-pointer on Sunday, Derek Simpson surpassed 1,000 career points, combining his totals from Saint Joseph’s and Rutgers. He is one of 268 active Division I players to reach this milestone, having scored 507 points with the Scarlet Knights and 517 with the Hawks.
Next Up
The Hawks return home to face Dayton on Saturday, January 24, in a nationally televised game on CBS Sports Network. Tip-off from Hagan Arena is set for 6:00 p.m. ET.
