Johns Hopkins held off Yeshiva while Swarthmore fell to Keene State in the opening round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament on Friday.
In Galloway, N.J., 10th-ranked Hopkins received a career-high 23 points from Carson James and held off a late surge by 19th-ranked Yeshiva as the Blue Jays advanced to the second round with a 63-59 win Friday afternoon. With the win, Hopkins moves into the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second time under head coach Josh Loeffler and the seventh time in program history.
The 20-point game is the third of James' career and his 23-point effort is one better than his previous career high of 22 against Gettysburg earlier this season. All three of his 20-point games have come since January 22. Conner Delaney chipped in with 11 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals and Lincoln Yeutter added 10 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
The Blue Jays (23-3) will take on 23rd-ranked and regional host Stockton (25-4), which defeated Wilson 87-52, on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
In Swarthmore, Pa., the host and 20th-ranked Garnet fell to Keene State, 84-83. Michael Caprise led the team with 27 points and 13 rebounds on 12-of-17 shooting from the field. George Visconti and Vinney DeAngelo also scored in double figures with 18 and 17, respectively.
Swarthmore concludes the year with a 22-6 record and its fifth straight NCAA tournament appearance.