Flyers Take Control of Game, Beat Caps in OT 5-4

       Going into the third period today the score was 2-2 and both teams had registered 17 shots.  Talbot and Read scored for the Flyers and Backstrom and Green scored for the Capitals.  The third period was undoubtedly one of the most eventful periods of hockey this season though.

Keys to Phillies 2013 Season

    With Opening Day on Monday, it's time to go through the keys to the Phillies 2013 season.  If the team hopes to rebound from a disappointing 2012, they will need quite a few things to happen.  So with that said, lets move into my keys for the 2013 Phillies.

La Salle's Remarkable Season Comes to an End

    The clock struck midnight on the La Salle Explorers Cinderella season last night as they fell to the Wichita State Shockers by a score 72-58.  The size advantage the Shockers had proved to be simply too much for the Explorers as they were overwhelmed in the paint.  In the contest, Wichita State out-rebounded La Salle 44 to 23, and did a ton of scoring in the paint.

Questions Remain for Halladay as Phillies Head North

    Roy Halladay and the Philadelphia Phillies wrapped up their Grapefruit League schedule this afternoon.  The Phillies topped the Blue Jays by a final score of 7 to 2 with the help of home runs from Chase Utley and Laynce Nix.  Halladay pitched mediocre in the game, after struggling for much of the spring.  Halladay struggled with command yet again, while his velocity was slightly up from previous starts.  In four and one-third innings pitched this afternoon, Halladay allowed two runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out six.  The Phillies now head north to play two more exhibition games against the Blue Jays before opening the season on April 1 in Atlanta.  After a disappointing 2012 for both Halladay and the Phillies, both will be looking for rebound seasons in 2013.

Hamels Will Contend for Cy Young in 2013

    Cole Hamels had his final tune-up this afternoon before he will make the first Opening Day start of his career on April 1st against the Braves.  Hamels was sharp in his brief outing against the Tigers today, as he faced off against Justin Verlander.  Hamels tossed three shutout innings, while allowing one hit and one walk.  On the day Hamels also struck out three as he finalized his Grapefruit League ERA for 2013 at 0.95.  The Phillies managed to squeeze out four runs and win the game by a score of 4 to 1.  After the completion of a strong Spring Training for the Phillies left-hander, Hamels appears poised to compete for the NL Cy Young in 2013.

Phillies Bats Sting Rays

    The Phillies topped the Tampa Bay Rays by a score of 10 to 1 in this afternoon's contest at Bright House Field.  The Phillies pitchers had a very solid outing on the day, but it was the hitters who truly stung the Rays.

La Salle vs. Wichita State Preview

    Thursday night in Sweet 16 action, there will be a battle of two underrated squads, both hoping to continue their Cinderella run.  While most of the attention nationally is going to Florida Gulf Coast, and rightfully so as they are a 15 seed in the Sweet 16, La Salle versus Wichita State is a game guaranteed to send a Cinderella team to the Elite 8.

Sixers Struggle in Utah

         The 76ers arrived in Utah for Monday's game coming off a solid win in Sacramento only the night before. The Sixers had won that game with high energy and great games from Jrue Holiday, Dorrell Wright and even Lavoy Allen. However, the Sixers' performance against Utah seemed like an entirely different team as they would trail the entire game in the loss.

George Mason Makes A10 Move Official

       George Mason University officially announced they will join the Atlantic 10 Conference via teleconference earlier today.  The Patriots will leave the Colonial Athletic Association and become members in all sports as of July 1, 2013.  What does this mean for the Atlantic 10?

76ers Snap Road Losing Streak in Sacramento

         The 76ers came into Sacramento Sunday night on a pitiful 15 game road losing streak. To make things seem worse, the Sixer were also coming off a terrible loss in Denver where they blew a 5 point lead in the final minute. But the Sixers would not dwell on the loss or their recent road woes and instead came onto the court looking quite confident and this would lead to a well-deserved win.

La Salle's Cinderella Story Continues

    The clock has still not struck midnight on La Salle's Cinderella season.  The Explorers, making their first NCAA Tournament since 1992, have now won their third game of this years Big Dance to advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 1955.  The Explorers pulled through in the waning seconds, to defeat Ole Miss by a score of  76-74.

Flyers Futility Continues

       Bryz looked good tonight, blocking 33 shots, but that wasn't enough as the Penguins stole one from the Flyers in OT, winning 2-1.  Possible pig creature, Tyler Kennedy, scored the winning goal halfway into the overtime.  Unlike most Penguins-Flyers game, this one was not the least bit action packed.

Temple's Upset Bid Falls Short

    For thirty-seven minutes Temple looked poised to be this years Cinderella team, as they battled Indiana for a Sweet 16 birth.  The only problem?  The game lasts forty minutes, and the three minutes  the Owls played their worst basketball came at the end of the game, the worst possible time.

Utley & Howard Homer Again, Phillies Come Up Short

    The Phillies fell behind early this afternoon to the Boston Red Sox, before charging back to tie the game.  The Phillies and Red Sox entered the ninth inning tied at 6 apiece, but Boston plated a run in the top of the inning, and took the game by a final score of 7-6.  Despite the loss, there were some positive signs from the Phillies on the day.

Utley Homers Twice, Phillies Top Orioles

    The Phillies power bats were on full display in this afternoons contest as they went deep five times.  The Phillies topped the Orioles by a score of 13-4 with the help of a solid outing from the heart of their lineup.

Villanova's Future Bright Even After Loss

    Villanova saw it's tournament hopes come to an early end last night in a defeat to eighth-seeded UNC by a score of 78-71.  The loss makes Villanova the first Philadelphia team to be eliminated from the field of 64 this year, but is just the beginning of a bright future for the Wildcats.

La Salle Holds On For Upset of Kansas State

    In the second nail-biter game for Philadelphia college basketball teams this afternoon, La Salle held on to survive a late charge from fourth-seeded Kansas State, and upset the Wildcats 63-61.  After dominating early, La Salle began to collapse, and nearly gave away a game that seemed to be in their hands.

Phillies Win on Ruf Walk-Off, Send Him to Minors

    The Phillies topped the Braves in walk-off fashion this afternoon by a score of 7-6.  With the game knotted at 6 apiece, Darin Ruf stepped to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.  The outfield prospect took Daniel Rodriguez deep to win the game for the Phillies.

Temple Dominates Early, Holds On Late

    Temple fans can now exhale.  After jumping out to a big lead early in today's first round NCAA Tournament game against NC State, the Owls survived a late rally from the Wolfpack to advance to the round of 32, with a 76-72 win.  Temple seemingly had the game in control throughout, until raising the blood pressure of Owls fans everywhere for the final five minutes.

La Salle Cruises to Victory

    La Salle cruised to victory in their contest last night against Boise State in the First Four, to earn the right to play Kansas State on Friday.  The Explorers won the game by a final score of 80-71.  While the final score looks close, the Explorers were in complete control throughout, and dominated the Broncos for forty minutes.

FINAL FOUR Predicitons

   Although not directly relating to Philadelphia sports, the NCAA tournament is the hottest topic in sports right now. Here are our contributors predictions for the Final Four in Atlanta. (Remember: Join our BroadStBeat group on ESPN and submit your bracket!)

Saint Joseph's Season Ends on Buzzer Beater

    A Saint Joseph's basketball season full of letdowns came to it's disappointing conclusion this evening.  The Hawks faced off against the Red Storm of Saint John's in the first round of the NIT at Hagan Arena tonight.  Saint Joseph's lost by a final score of 63-61 on a buzzer beater shot to finish the season a mediocre 18-14.

Downtown Dom Brown Strikes Again

    The Phillies topped the Yankees this afternoon at Bright House Field by a score of 4-1.  Once again Dom Brown had an impressive day.  Brown hit his sixth home run of the spring in a 1 for 3 day at the plate, and is hitting .397 in Grapefruit League play.  Brown continues to turn heads this spring and appears poised for a breakout season in 2013.

Flyers Fall in Tampa

       Greetings all, hope you had a fun St. Patrick's Day.  While it was fun to drink all weekend in Philly/New York, I must admit I am excited for the coming week to take it easy and be sober, and there is nothing more sobering these days than Flyers hockey.  Tonight was another typical 2013 Flyers game.  In a game that was definitely winnable, and could have gained Philly some much needed ground, the team could barely get the puck out of their own zone, especially towards the end.  Heading into the third period tied 2-2 the Flyers gave up a 9th minute goal to Teddy Purcell and an empty-netter to Steven Stamkos to drive the final nail in the coffin.

76ers Win & Bynum Set for Surgery

       The 76ers beat the Trailblazers on Monday at the Wells Fargo Center, making it Philadelphia's second win in a row. The Sixers defeated the Pacers Saturday night with terrific games from Jrue Holiday(27 points, 12 assists, 6 rebounds) and Spencer Hawes (18 points, 16 rebounds, 8 assists, 7 blocks). In Monday's game against Portland, these players would once again have great performances.

Phillies Fall to Braves in Slugfest

              Runs definitely were not in short supply today, as the Phillies fell to the Braves 17-10 at the Wide World of Sports Complex.  No Phillies pitcher walked away from this afternoons contest with a clean line.  Rodrigo Lopez started for the Phillies and was absolutely shelled for 8 runs, 7 earned, on 8 hits, that included 2 home runs, in just two innings of work.

Remembering Jim Valvano

        As the NCAA Tournament is about to get underway, now is a great time to look back on the remarkable life of Jim Valvano.  Thirty years ago, Valvano's North Carolina State team made an improbable run through the ACC Tournament and NCAA Tournament to come out national champions. 

Phillies Beat Orioles

               Sporting their green uniforms for Saint Patrick's Day, the Phillies topped the Orioles 5-3 this afternoon.  The Phillies clearly did not have the luck of the Irish on their side to start the day, as Roy Halladay was lifted after one scoreless inning due to a stomach virus.  With Halladay's face greener than the Phillies uniforms today, Zach Miner took over on the mound.

Brown Delivers, Phillies Win

               The Phillies topped the Yankees 7-0 in this afternoons contest at Steinbrenner Field.  The pitching and offense were both running smoothly today as the Phillies easily defeated their opponent. Raul Valdes got the start for the Phillies, as Cole Hamels remained in Clearwater to pitch in a minor league intrasquad game.

Time For Fans To Grow Up!

               The Flyers won in a shootout last night at the Wells Fargo Center against the Devils, but the more important story is about a Devils fan who was hospitalized.  A 17 year old Devils fan was punched and choked by Flyers fans in the arena after the game, and as a result was hospitalized.

Temple Falls to UMass

               Temple suffered a disappointing loss last night to Massachusetts in the second round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament, 79-74.  While the loss comes at a poor time for the Owls, it should not cost them an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, and probably will only change their seeding.

Saint Joseph's Season Comes to a Close

               Saint Joseph's fell to VCU by a score of 82-79 to bring a disappointing season to a close.  The Hawks season that began with such high aspirations truly fizzled out.  While the score looks close, VCU dominated for the majority of the game.  The "Havoc" VCU created overwhelmed the Hawks early and often, and the Rams took a 33-23 lead into the half.

Phillies Fall in Extra Innings

               The Phillies and Rays needed some extra baseball today to determine a winner, as the game went 10 innings, before the Rays came away with a 3-1 victory.  Off-season acquisition John Lannan threw five shutout innings while allowing only 2 hits, and striking out 4.

La Salle's Fate Lies in Hands of Selection Committee

               La Salle fell to Butler in the second round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament, and as a result their fate now lies in the hands of the selection committee.  It was a hard fought game in a rematch from a meeting earlier in the season, in which the Explorers emerged victorious, but this time they could not pull out the win, falling 69-58.

Nova Still Dancing Even With Loss

               Villanova fell to 4th ranked Louisville tonight in a rematch of a game the Wildcats won earlier in the season.  The Cardinals won by a final score of 74-55 at Madison Square Garden to advance in the Big East Tournament and send Villanova home, for now.

The Hawk Is... Still Alive!

               Saint Joseph's narrowly escaped having their disappointing season come to an end tonight in a 58-57 win over Xavier in the first round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament.  With the help of a suspect shot-clock violation call against the Musketeers in the waning seconds of the game, the Hawks got one last chance to take the lead.

Phillies Top In-State Rival Pirates

                In a tightly contested game this afternoon, the Phillies topped their in-state rival the Pittsburgh Pirates by a score of 2-1.  Neither team got on the board until the 6th inning when the Phillies took a 1-0 lead.  The Pirates quickly tied the game in the top of the 7th inning before the Phillies took the lead for good in the bottom of the 8th inning.

Phillies Fall to Yankees

               The Phillies fell to the Yankees 6-2 in a game at Steinbrenner Field tonight.  While the pitching and hitting were not exactly spectacular tonight, sloppy defense is what proved to be the downfall of the Phillies.

76ers Fall to the Heat in Crunch Time

         The 76ers put up quite the fight against Miami at home but couldn't hold on in the final two minutes, committing two lethal mistakes. The Heat came into this match up on an incredible 19 game win streak. Although not nearly impressive, the Sixers were coming off a nice win against Brooklyn on Monday. The second half of the season for these teams have been polar opposite; Miami has been unstoppable, while Philadelphia has been falling to the bottom in their division and conference. But much like their game last Friday, the Sixers would give Miami everything they had.

Villanova Win Should Punch Ticket to Big Dance

               The win by the Villanova tonight against the Saint John's Red Storm should seal the envelope to the Wildcats NCAA Tournament invitation.  Villanova came away with a 66-53 victory in a contest that was a little too close for comfort for the majority of the game.

ATLANTIC 10 Tournament Predictions

       We here at the BSB have wagered a case of Philly's finest milk steaks and jelly beans on who we think will win the Atlantic 10 tournament.  The field is wide open this year and will most likely be the most fun tournament to watch this week.  Games start at 12 tomorrow and are on the NBC Sports Network.  Predictions after the jump.

Roy's Command Goes On A Halladay

               Roy Halladay's command clearly decided to take a spring holiday in the Florida sun this afternoon.  Halladay was absolutely shelled by the Detroit Tigers as they took the contest over the Phillies 10-6.  The command and velocity just never showed up to Bright House Field for Halladay as he was tagged for 7 runs on 6 hits in just 2 2/3 innings on the mound.

Sixers Get Doug Collins His 100th win

       The Sixers got the win over their division-rival Nets at home on Monday to snap a five game losing streak. The 76ers got a great game out of Spencer Hawes and a solid game from all of their starters. The win came only one day after another disappointing loss to the lowly Magic on the road, yet in this game the Sixers were able to beat a playoff-bound Brooklyn squad. The win is Coach Collins' 100th win with Philadelphia.

The Curious Case of Domonic Brown

    Confusion, Impatience, and Frustration are just a few words that can be used to describe the Phillies organization and it's fans attitudes regarding the young career of Dom Brown.  A 20th round draft pick out of Redan High School in 2006, Brown quickly rose through the ranks of the Phillies minor-league system, turning heads at each stop along the way.  Brown found himself in Double A Reading to start the 2010 season, and impressed so much early in the season that he quickly was promoted to Triple A, where he also continued to hit the cover off the ball.  Brown earned a mid-season call up to the big club on July 28, 2010, and this is when things stopped going so smoothly.  Brown hit only .210 in 62 at-bats for the Phillies that season.  Despite a poor first look in the majors, Brown still found himself as the #4 overall prospect as ranked by Baseball America after the 2010 season.
    Since then, however, Brown and his performance have continued to baffle and frustrate the organization and it's fans.   Brown has suffered from injuries including a broken bone in his hand, and failed to produce when called up to the majors.  After dominating the minors, the Phillies refused to trade Brown, as they pretty much cleared house of all other prospects in order to acquire players like Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Hunter Pence.  As 2011 rolled around, the Phillies looked for Brown to possibly step into a starting role in the outfield, but he struggled at the plate, hitting .245 in 184 at-bats, causing the Phillies to trade for Hunter Pence to take over in the outfield.  In 2012 Brown again entered Spring Training with the opportunity to earn a starting spot in the outfield, but again failed to catch on.  Brown saw much more time after Pence and Shane Victorino were traded midway through 2012, but still only hit .235 in 187 at-bats.  Over the past few seasons he has been sub-par in the field as well, making numerous mental mistakes.  It's no wonder why the Phillies management and fans have grown impatient with Brown given his performance the past few seasons.
    While Brown is still only 25 years old, 2013 could be a make or break year for the young outfielder. At this point he has little trade value so it is unlikely he will be leaving the organization.  He entered Grapefruit League play this spring with an opportunity to earn one of two open outfield positions.  With Delmon Young likely to start the season on the disabled list, Brown was at a slight advantage at winning one of the positions.  Since camp has opened, we have a seen a completely different Dom Brown from the one who struggled the past few seasons.  Brown looks reminiscent of the player who tore through the minors early in his career.  Although it is a small sample size, Brown has hit .432 with 3 home runs in just 37 at-bats.  Brown has been making great contact through the spring thus far and has a remarkable .523 OBP, while also having a 1.252 OPS.  While it would be unwise to read too far into his spring numbers, Brown is showing quite a bit of promise and looking like he may finally be ready to be an everyday major leaguer.  Perhaps all he has needed was regular plate appearances in the majors to finally catch on, and barring an injury he is sure to get that this season.  So in 2013 we will get a deeper glimpse into the curious case of Dom Brown, and see if he is poised to break out or fade into the distance.

Flyers Get Back on Track With Win Over Buffalo

       While the Bahamas proved to be a fun time, not being able to watch the Flyers play was the next worst thing to the drinking water down there.  The past 3 games the orange and black played while I was away were a measuring stick for the team to see how they could deal with 3 of the toughest Eastern Conference teams in a row.  Sadly, they did not pass the test whatsoever, dropping Tuesday's game against the Rangers 4-2, losing to the Penguins Thursday 5-4 (after being up 4-1 nonetheless) and capping it off with a loss to the Bruins yesterday 3-0.  The scheduling gods have not been very kind to the Flyers this far into the season.

Phillies Shut Down Astros

               The Phillies pitching staff completely shut down the Houston Astros in this afternoons contest, as the Phillies cruised to a 7-1 victory.  Cole Hamels got the start on the mound and continued to look great thus far in Grapefruit League play.

Temple Win Should Punch Ticket to Tournament

               Temple took a giant step forward in punching their ticket to the NCAA Tournament this afternoon in an 84-76 victory over the 21st ranked VCU Rams.  A loss in the game would not have hurt the Owls resume but most likely would have assured that they have to win at least one Atlantic 10 Tournament game to still receive an at-large bid.

Saint Joseph's Regular Season Ends on Low Note

           Saint Joseph's capped off a disappointing 2012-2013 regular season with a loss to Charlotte by a score of 52-40.  The loss drops the Hawks regular season record to an underwhelming 17-12 and 8-8 in Atlantic 10 play.  To put this as nicely as possible, the Hawks played absolutely atrocious tonight to finish a disappointing regular season.

Phillies Blown Out by Rays

               The Phillies faced the Tampa Bay Rays for the second day in a row, and for the second day in a row came away with a loss.  Today's loss was in blowout fashion, as the Phillies lost by a score of 15-7.  John Lannan got the start for the Phillies and gave up 4 runs in four innings on the mound.

La Salle Loss Could Cost Explorers Tournament Bid

         La Salle closed the regular season today with a crushing defeat to the 16th ranked Saint Louis Billikens.  While losing to the #16 team in the nation is nothing to be ashamed of, the loss may cost La Salle an at-large bid they had seemed destined to receive.

Learning From Flyers, 76ers Blow Lead Against Miami

        Just like their fellow Philadelphians, the Flyers, the 76ers blew a late game lead in Miami after keeping it close and leading for much of the game. The Heat, excuse me, El Heat, entered this match up with a 16 game winning streak, and the Sixers entered with.... well... 1 win in 11 games. But the game was much more exciting then expected thanks to a valiant effort by Philadelphia. 

Phillies Stung by Rays

               The Phillies lost a close game to the Tampa Bay Rays today by a score of 3-2.  Kyle Kendrick got the start on the mound and surrendered all 3 of the Rays runs on 5 hits, while striking out 3 in four innings pitched.  The Phillies did have a 2-0 lead entering the bottom of the third inning before Kendrick surrendered 3 runs in the bottom half of the inning.

Flyers Cough Up Lead, Game

               The Flyers met their in-state rival Pittsburgh Penguins last night at the Wells Fargo Center, and as usual it was a high scoring affair.  The Penguins unfortunately came away victorious by a score of 5-4 in a game the Flyers seemed to have complete control of in the first period.

Phillies Roughed up by Twins

         A game that started off so bright for the Phillies ended in disappointing fashion this afternoon as the Twins beat them by a score of 10-6.  The Phillies jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the third inning, before being shutdown for the remainder of the game and watching the Twins score 9 unanswered runs. 

To Re-sign or Not Re-sign? That's the Bynum Question

       18.7 points, 56% shooting from the floor, 11.8 rebounds, 1.9 blocks: So reads Andrew Bynum's per game statistics from the 2011-12 season. Not to mention he also had the 2nd best player efficiency rating in the NBA. And remember, Bynum wasn't even the go-to guy in LA. This summer, Bynum will be an unrestricted free agent. A fan who hasn't kept up with the NBA this season would say, "Its a no-brainer, sign this 7-footer to a max deal! Lock him up for the future!" But oh how things have changed since Bynum was traded to the 76ers.

Sixers Beat By Atlanta, Lose Third Straight

      The Sixers were defeated by the Hawks in Atlanta on Wednesday, starting a new losing streak for Philadelphia. The Sixers played their 8th game in 12 days, winning only one of them. Philly was able to get out to a fast start, leading 8-0 and holding the Hawks scoreless for almost 5 minutes. However, the Hawks bounced back quickly and led for the rest of the game winning it 107-97.

Tournament Bid All But Assured for La Salle

         La Salle took one step closer to punching their ticket to the NCAA Tournament tonight in an 84-70 victory over a mediocre George Washington squad.  The Explorers continued their impressive season and increased their record to 21-7 and 11-4 in Atlantic 10 play.

Temple on the Road to NCAA Tournament

         Temple easily took care of Fordham tonight and continued on their path toward an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.  The Owls defeated the Rams by a final score of 74-55 to improve to 22-8 on the season and 10-5 in Atlantic 10 play. 

Saint Joseph's Dominates on Senior Night

        The Saint Joseph's Hawks absolutely dominated the Rhode Island Rams on Senior Night at Hagan Arena.  The Hawks dominated from the outset, and finished with an 81-44 victory in the final home game for senior guard Carl "Tay" Jones. 

Villanova Upset Should Guarantee Tournament Bid

         Villanova knocked off the 5th ranked Georgetown Hoyas tonight at the Wells Fargo Center to almost guarantee an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.  The Wildcats defeated the Hoyas by a final score of 67-57 to notch their third victory over a top-five opponent this season. 

Joseph & Phillies Top Nationals

         In a match up against the 2012 NL East Division Champion Washington Nationals today, the Phillies emerged victorious by a score of 6-3.  The game was started by star pitchers for both teams, with Stephen Strasburg getting the start for the Nationals, and Roy Halladay for the Phillies. 

Sixers Defeated By Division Rival Celtics

        The 76ers faced off against their Atlantic Division rival Boston Celtics Tuesday night in Philadelphia. The Sixers have beaten Boston twice this season and took them to Game 7 in last year's playoffs. It was a good opportunity for the Sixers to get a win on their home court before a tough 3 game road trip. Although close throughout, the Sixers would lose this one 109-101. The 76ers would pick up a second loss in a row, losing an awful 9 of their 10.

Flyers Fall to Nash & Rangers

                The Flyers fell to the New York Rangers tonight at Madison Square Garden by a score of 4-2.  The Flyers had a 2-1 lead at one point in the first period before allowing 3 unanswered goals.  The deciding factor in the game proved to be the play of Rick Nash, who the Flyers had so highly coveted in the off-season but could not acquire.

Phillies Rocked by Dominican Republic

         In non-Grapefruit League action today, the Phillies were absolutely demolished by the Dominican Republic national squad that will compete in the World Baseball Classic.  While the game has no meaning for the Phillies, and counts even less than a Spring Training game, it still stings with how bad of a defeat the team suffered.

Phillies One-Hit Pirates

         The Phillies pitching staff looks to have rebounded after being shelled yesterday against the Orioles and only pitching mediocre against the Blue Jays in split-squad action.  The Phillies pitchers combined today to one-hit the Pirates in a 5 to 0 win. 

Phillies Win One, Lose One

         The Phillies were in split-squad action on Sunday, defeating the Blue Jays while dropping the other game to the Orioles.  Both contests were complete blowouts, with the more powerful Phillies taking part in the winning contest. 

Villanova's Tournament Hopes Suffer Setback

               Villanova suffered yet another setback in their quest to make the NCAA Tournament today, with a heartbreaking 73-64 overtime loss to 23rd ranked Pittsburgh.  While losing to the #23 team in the country is nothing to be ashamed of, Villanova entered the day as one of Joe Lunardi's last four teams in, and needing a win to solidify their tournament hopes.  To make the loss even more heartbreaking, the Wildcats led by 3 points with 34 seconds remaining, when the Panthers hit a 3 to tie the game and send it to overtime.

Saint Joseph's Dominates Fordham

               The Saint Joseph's Hawks blew the Fordham Rams out of Hagan Arena on Saturday night, taking the game by a score of 82-56.  The Hawks dominated from the outset, as well they should have, since Fordham is a bad team and now has a record of 6-23 after the defeat.

La Salle Manhandles Duquesne

               The La Salle Explorers likely increased their chances at an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament this afternoon by completely running Duquesne out of the gym.  The Explorers improved to 20-7 and 10-4 in Atlantic 10 play with the 97-64 routing of the Dukes.  

Temple Continues Winning Ways

               Temple improved to 21-8 and 9-5 in Atlantic 10 play today in a 76-70 victory over Rhode Island that was a little to close for comfort.  The Rams who are 8-19 kept the game close against a very tough Owls squad that appears headed for the NCAA Tournament.

Phillies Blown Out by New-Look Blue Jays

                The Phillies pitching staff was manhandled today in a match up against the Blue Jays and the newly acquired, 2012 NL Cy Young, R.A. Dickey, that saw the Phillies fall 11-6.  Cliff Lee got the start for the Phillies and was hit around quite a bit in his three innings pitched, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits.

Phillies Top Struggling Yankees

               The Phillies bats continued to be lively today as they topped the struggling Yankees, 10-5.  Roy Halladay got the starting nod for the Phillies, in his second Grapefruit League appearance.  Halladay had a decent outing but was not quite as sharp as his previous start.