St. Joe's surges past Davidson, reaches A-10 semifinals

Hawks use late scoring runs to pull away, set up semifinal matchup with VCU

Mar. 14, 2026 at 5:38am

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The Saint Joseph's Hawks defeated the Davidson Wildcats 70-58 in the Atlantic 10 tournament quarterfinals, advancing to the conference semifinals for the third straight year. The Hawks used a pair of 12-2 scoring runs in the second half to pull away, fueled by their stifling defense that led to transition opportunities for guards Derek Simpson and Khaafiq Myers. Justice Ajogbor, the A-10 Co-Defensive Player of the Year, scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to power the Hawks' victory.

Why it matters

Saint Joseph's has been one of the hottest teams in the Atlantic 10 down the stretch, winning seven games in a row. Their defensive intensity and transition offense have been the keys to their success, and they now find themselves just one win away from an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The details

The Hawks' defense was the catalyst for their scoring runs, as they were able to get stops and turn them into easy transition baskets. Point guard Derek Simpson, an All-A-10 First Team selection, had 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists while controlling the tempo. Justice Ajogbor, the A-10 Co-Defensive Player of the Year, scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, including some key baskets in the paint to extend the Hawks' lead.

  • The Saint Joseph's Hawks defeated the Davidson Wildcats on Friday, March 14, 2026.

The players

Saint Joseph's Hawks

The men's basketball team of Saint Joseph's University, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Derek Simpson

The starting point guard for the Saint Joseph's Hawks, who was named to the All-Atlantic 10 First Team this season.

Justice Ajogbor

The starting center for the Saint Joseph's Hawks, who was named the Atlantic 10 Co-Defensive Player of the Year.

Davidson Wildcats

The men's basketball team of Davidson College, located in Davidson, North Carolina. They are a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Steve Donahue

The head coach of the Saint Joseph's Hawks men's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“Our defense is always our cornerstone. We don't foul, we really guard, and make it difficult. I thought there were stretches in that game that we took Davidson out of what they wanted to do. When we do that, you can feel the energy.”

— Steve Donahue, Head Coach, Saint Joseph's Hawks (blogspot.com)

“We're very good in transition, and that has a lot to do with Derek Simpson. His ability to go foul line to foul line, he's extremely athletic, and on top of that, he's got great vision. Those stretches were fueled by the defense, and when that happens, you see us move the ball and share it.”

— Steve Donahue, Head Coach, Saint Joseph's Hawks (blogspot.com)

“He's getting more opportunities than he ever has. We run an offense that's predicated on the big being able to handle the ball. He's really gotten better. There's a noticeable confidence when he gets the ball in tight spots that he's able to finish.”

— Steve Donahue, Head Coach, Saint Joseph's Hawks (blogspot.com)

“I always do whatever it takes to win, and that's how I think about playing basketball. If my teammates pass me the ball, then I'm going to play my role.”

— Justice Ajogbor, Starting Center, Saint Joseph's Hawks (blogspot.com)

“We always trusted ourselves and trusted the staff. I think we all have to believe we had what it took in that locker room. To kind of vindicate ourselves is an awesome feeling. But the goal isn't to get to the semifinals again. We're looking forward to tomorrow, but we know what we've got to do to get to where we want.”

— Justice Ajogbor, Starting Center, Saint Joseph's Hawks (blogspot.com)

What’s next

The Saint Joseph's Hawks will face the VCU Rams in the Atlantic 10 tournament semifinals on Saturday, March 15, 2026. The winner will advance to the championship game on Sunday, with the opportunity to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Saint Joseph's has proven to be one of the most formidable teams in the Atlantic 10 this season, relying on their stifling defense and transition offense to power their deep tournament run. With a semifinal matchup against VCU looming, the Hawks have a chance to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament and continue their quest for a conference championship.