St. John Fisher secures 19-point win over Washington & Lee
The St. John Fisher men’s basketball team used a broad scoring spread to defeat Washington & Lee 81-62 on Sunday afternoon.
The victory took place during the TowneBank Tip-Off Tournament consolation game held at Batten University’s TowneBank Arena in Virginia Beach, Va.
According to sjfathletics.com, the Cardinals (1-1) established control early, holding a 15-point advantage at halftime. They maintained this momentum through the second half to prevent a Washington & Lee (0-2) comeback.
The Cardinals’ efficiency was evident across several statistical categories. St. John Fisher shot 47.3% from the field and nearly 40% from behind the three-point line. They also converted 80% of their free throws and relied heavily on their depth, recording 48 points from the bench.
A decisive first-half surge
The game began with a competitive back-and-forth rhythm. Washington & Lee initially held a 21-18 lead, but St. John Fisher responded with a 17-0 run. This scoring burst allowed the Cardinals to take a 35-21 lead.
Giovanni Schillaci scored six points on two three-pointers during this stretch. Jordan Cain and Andrew Violante also contributed five points each during the run. By the end of the first half, the Cardinals outscored the Generals 22-4 over the final 7:10 minutes to lead 40-25.
Cain was particularly effective in the opening period, scoring 14 of his total 16 points in the first 20 minutes of play.
Cardinals players reach double digits in scoring
Several players reached double digits for the Cardinals. The scoring distribution was as follows:
| Player | Points Scored | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Cain | 16 | 5-of-8 FG, 2-of-3 3PT, 4 steals |
| Mekhi Gidney | 15 | 4-of-10 FG, 2-of-4 3PT |
| Connor Amorosi | 14 | Led Washington & Lee |
| Alex Fannéy | 14 | Game-high four 3-pointers |
| Giovanni Schillaci | 13 | Team-high three 3-pointers |
| Andrew Violante | 12 | Contributed to second-half runs |
Mekhi Gidney earned a spot on the TowneBank Tip-Off All-Tournament Team. Over the course of two games, Gidney totaled 37 points while shooting 54.2% from the field and 60% from three-point range. His performance also included five rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
Washington & Lee saw strong efforts from Connor Amorosi and Alex Fannéy, who both scored 14 points. Fannéy led all players with four successful three-pointers.
Second-half dominance
St. John Fisher sustained their lead in the second half, maintaining a gap of 10 to 14 points in the early minutes. They eventually pushed the lead to 19 points at 62-43 following a three-pointer by Christian Amica and a layup by Jake Pangrazio.
The Cardinals’ offense peaked late in the game. A 12-4 run helped extend their lead to a maximum of 25 points, reaching 77-52. This run included four points each from Andrew Violante and Jack Janes. In the second half alone, the Cardinals shot 51.8% from the field and 84.6% from the free-throw line.
Jonathan McCaffrey led the Cardinals in rebounding with six boards.
The road ahead for the Cardinals
The Cardinals will now travel to face Hobart College. The game is scheduled for Wednesday, November 11, at 7:30 p.m. in Geneva, NY.
