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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Saturday / November 23.
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Articles, Hurleys, Roselle Catholic, St. Anthony

By ADAM ZAGORIA & JEREMY FUCHS

17148535-standardTOMS RIVER, N.J. — Kentucky-bound point guard Isaiah Briscoe has piled up awards and achievements throughout his prep career in New Jersey, but he has never won the state’s ultimate prize, the Tournament of Champions.

Now the McDonald’s and Jordan Brand All-American has yet another chance before he heads off to Big Blue Nation.

The 6-foot-3 Briscoe went for 17 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists as Roselle Catholic held off Naismith Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley and St. Anthony, 56-52, in the New Jersey Non-Public B state final before a capacity crowd of more than 3,200 at Pine Belt Arena. It was RC’s second win over Hurley and the Friars this season.

It marked the first time ever a team has beaten St. Anthony twice in one season and also the third straight year that Roselle Catholic has ousted the Friars from the state tournament.

“I never doubted that we couldn’t win the game,” Briscoe said after the Lions outscored the Friars, 28-21 in the second half after trailing at the break. “I always knew that we would come out and win the game.”

Briscoe and the Lions (26-4) will likely open as the No. 1 seed in the TOC, which begins Wednesday and features the state’s four public school champions and its two non-public champs in a winner-take-all event.

“We’re going to win it,” Briscoe said.

Articles, Hurleys

Dan HurleyBy CHRIS RUSSELL

NEW YORK— With a 15-year wait since their last NCAA Tournament appearance, head coach Dan Hurley and his Rhode Island squad entered the Barclays Center on Saturday just two victories away from winning the Atlantic 10 Tournament and punching their ticket to the Big Dance.

That wait will more than likely be for another year.

In a tight contest, the second-seeded Flyers took control of the final 5:00 of the game, edging Rhode Island 56-52.

“Tough loss obviously,” Hurley said. “Lost with a little bit of inexperience, had 21 turnovers, giving away that many possessions. You have to give them credit.”

Articles, Syracuse

BY JEREMY FUCHS

Diagne

TOMS RIVER, N.J. — There’s no postseason this year for the Syracuse men’s basketball team, but Moustapha Diagne, who will play on the Orange next season, is leading his team deep into the New Jersey state playoffs.

The 6-foot-9 Diagne led Pope John to a 71-35 beatdown of Christian Brothers Academy in the Non-Public A Final at the Pine Belt Arena. Diagne scored 10 points and had five rebounds in just 20 minutes of play and his team will next play in the New Jersey Tournament of Champions, which begins Wednesday.

Two years ago, Syracuse commit Tyler Roberson won the Tournament of Champions with Roselle Catholic.

While Roberson was a small forward, Diagne is a very polished power forward—smooth in the post, a good passer and a solid defender.

“Moustapha usually establishes himself in the post,” coach Jason Hasson said after the game. “He can guard every position. Moustapha really stepped up as a [vocal] leader.”

Articles, Georgetown

GovanBy CHRIS BARCA

NEW YORK — Georgetown may have lost in the Big East Tournament semifinals on Friday night at Madison Square Garden, but their future star won in a big way on Saturday afternoon.

Jessie Govan dropped a dominant double-double of 17 points and 17 rebounds to go with 3 blocks as Wings Academy beat defending champion Cardozo, 50-46, in the PSAL “AA” division city championship game at Madison Square Garden.

Wings avenged a January loss to Cardozo in the championship game of the SNY Invitational at City College.

With the postgame tears of joy wiped away, a grateful Govan said helping Wings to its first ever city championship was a dream come true.

“It was crazy. I couldn’t even believe it,” the 6-foot-11 Govan said of his emotional moment on the court after the game. “When the final buzzer went off, I couldn’t believe we could call ourselves PSAL city champs. It was surreal.”

Georgetown coach John Thompson III, whose team lost to Xavier in the Big East semis, called to congratulate Govan after the game.

“He said congrats and to keep working,” Govan said. “He wants me ready from Day 1.”

Articles, DePaul

5831024DePaul AD Jean Lenti Ponsetto announced today that Oliver Purnell has resigned as head coach and finished his DePaul coaching career after five seasons in Lincoln Park.

DePaul went 12-20 this season, 6-12 in the Big East and lost to Creighton in the first round of the Big East Tournament this week.

Purnell went 54-105 in five seasons as head coach at DePaul. In 27 years as a college head coach, he holds a record of 448-384.

“It is my best interest and my family’s best interest to resign as head coach of the DePaul basketball program,” said Purnell. “We made progress here and improved with the talent and character of our student-athletes. DePaul provided complete support and is fully committed to its basketball program with its budget, the on-campus facilities and in the future with the new events center. I would like to personally thank the University community, fans and student body for their support and thank the student-athletes for their efforts over the last five years.”

Articles, Duke

NCAA Basketball: Champions Classic-Michigan State vs DukeBy JACK LeGWIN

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Jahlil Okafor’s college career will come to a close sometime in the coming days.

Whether it ends in the second round of the NCAA Tournament — the way Duke went out last year — or with a national championship  — the way Duke finished up in 2010 — remains to be seen.

But this much is certain: the projected No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft won’t end his college career with an ACC Tournament title after No. 11 ranked Notre Dame upset No. 2-Duke 74-64 in the semifinals Friday night here at the Greensboro Coliseum.

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