WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - February 1, 2022 - The Dean College men's basketball held a lead in the second half at seventh-ranked Saint Joseph, but the Blue Jays protected home court and pulled away late for an 89-73 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) victory. 

Dean (5-12, 0-10 GNAC) plays at Johnson & Wales on Thursday before wrapping up the week at home on Saturday against Regis. USJ remains unbeaten at 17-0 overall and 12-0 in the conference. The Blue Jays host Albertus Magnus on Saturday. 

Senior Nick Sampeck (Blanco, Texas) led the Bulldogs with 20 points on 8-10 shooting in 31 minutes off the bench. Junior Hunter Meyer (Taylor Mill, Ky.) was the other Bulldog to reach double figures with 12 points. Junior Mark Blair (Rosedale, N.Y.) just missed a double-double with nine points and a team best 10 rebounds. 

The Blue Jays had three players with 20+ points and were led by Chaylyn Martin's 24. Jaecee Martin came away with 22 points, while Jordan Powell went 10-14 from the floor to finish with 20 points. Jalen Samuels led the team with 10 rebounds off the bench. 

Both teams shot the ball well with USJ posting a 51.6 shooting percentage, while Dean shot 45.3%. The Blue Jays were 19-30 from the free throw line and Dean made 10-15 from the charity stripe.  

The first 10 minutes of action was played within a couple possessions as each team was efficient on the offensive end. USJ took its biggest lead of the half, 43-32, after a Jaecee Martin layup with two minutes to play. Dean finished the frame with an 8-0 spurt, with five points by Sampeck, to trail by only three at the half. 

Winston Bryan (Greensboro, N.C.) made a three on the Bulldogs' first possession of the second to tie the game. At 12:53, Dean went in front 53-51 with a pair of Meyer free throws. Less than two minutes later, Sampeck put the Bulldogs in front 57-53 with a layup. USJ responded with a 12-0 run over the next five minutes and would not relinquish the lead en route to the 89-73 victory.