by Alex Schwartz

The 2009 Prime Time Shootout is about o get underway, and you'll be able to follow all the action right here. I'll be doing a live blog for each of the contests. First up, at the RAC at Rutgers University, is a Garden State showdown between the Immaculata (NJ) Spartans and the St. Joseph's Metuchen (NJ) Falcons. Both squads enter the game at 11-1 on the year.

5:01pm- Steve Rennard '10 of St. Joe's has opened the game with a three, under 20 seconds in.

5:03pm- It's 8-2 St. Joe's through 1:53 of play. 'Lata answered the first St. Joe's bucket with a deuce. Nikko Vastola '09 then hit a deuce and a trey for the Falcons, leading 'Lata to take an early timeout.

5:05pm- A triple from Gamal Mohamed '09, Immaculata's best player, has made it an 8-5 game. John Mack '09 then cut it down to 8-7 with a basket.

5:06pm- An 8-0 run has put 'Lata up 10-8, as Mohmamed just hit his second three. We've got 4:08 left in the first quarter.

5:07pm- A jumper from Gerard Lewis '09 and a layup from Vastola put St. Joe's back up by two, 12-10. Theo Riddick '09, a Notre Dame football commit, is now entering the game for 'Lata.

5:08pm- Robbie Ashamole '11 has extended the St. Joe's lead to four on a put-back. Jes Schierer '09 then answered for the Spartans. It's 14-12.

5:09pm- Rennard, who has been quiet since that first three, misseed a pair at the line with just over two minutes left in the first eight minutes of action.

5:10pm- After Mohamed tied the game at 14, Lewis scored again to put St. Joe's back up by a deuce, 16-14.

5:11pm- John Mack had a great crossover, but could not finish. His defensive board at the other end led to a 'Lata bucket from Mohamed, which was answered quickly by the Falcons, making it 18-16.

5:13pm- A Rennard three at the buzzer fell short, so it's still 18-16 in favor of St. Joseph's Metuchen through one quarter of play.

5:15pm- Gerard Lewis has scored twice more, the second of which was an and-one, though his missed the free throw. It's 21-16 through 1:15 of the second quarter.

5:17pm- Gagnjot Dhaliwal '10 nailed a trey to put the Falcons up by eight, 24-16.

5:22pm- At the halfway point of the second quarter, it's 25-18 in favor of the Falcons, despite the struggles of their best player, Steve Rennard.

5:23pm- It is now 27-18 St. Joe's, as Gerard Lewis scored yet another deuce.

5:24pm- A long jumper from Theo Riddick made it 28-22. The football star then made two at the stripe to cut the Falcons' lead down to a half dozen with less than three minutes to play in the second quarter.

5:27pm- Riddick is starting to get in the groove. After Vastola scored down low for St. Joe's, Riddick knocked down a three. Another bucket by Gerard Lewis for the Falcons has made it 32-35.

5:28pm- Both teams had chances with under five seconds to play in the half. Steve Rennard couldn't handle a pass from Vastola, and then Riddick missed a halfcourt shot for 'Lata. At the half, St. Joseph's Metuchen is out in front 32-25.

5:41pm- The Falcons opened the second half with five straight points, including a three from Rennard, until 'Lata hit a layup. It's 37-27.

5:45pm- With 4:09 to play in the third quarter, St. Joseph's is up 41-29.

5:47pm- Immaculata has cut the lead back down to single digits. With about three minutes left in the third quarter, it's 41-33.

5:48pm- The 'Lata run continues with a deuce from Theo Riddick to make it 41-35.

5:50pm- A turnover by Rennard in the backcourt led to an Immaculata basket, slicing the Falcons' lead down to four. Vastola scored at the other end to make it 43-37 and end the Spartans' run.

5:52pm- Despite having about four chances, St. Joe's could not convert, and 'Lata got the ball back with under 25 second in the half. Mohamed then nailed a trey from the corner just before the buzzer sounded. With eight minutes to play, the Falcons of St. Joe's lead 43-40.

5:54pm- After trailing by 12 in the third quarter, Immaculata has tied the game at 43. Theo Riddick scored and converted an and-one to even things up. The foul was on Gagnjot Dhaliwal, and it was his fourth, so he had to take a seat to avoid fouling out.

5:57pm- Nikko Vastola hit a long deuce to put St. Joe's back out in front, 47-45, with 6:37 to play in the game.

5:58pm- Once again, a bucket from Theo Riddick has tied the game. He then picked up his third foul at the other end.

6:02pm- With 3:50 left in regulation, it's knotted up at 45.

6:03pm- Vastola hit the first of two at the stripe to put St. Joe's up by one. He then hit a jumper the next time down the floor to make it a 48-45 game with just over three minutes to play. He and Gerard Lewis have kept the Falcons in—and on top—this game.

6:05pm- Ish Mack '11 made both ends of a one-and-one with 2:43 left in the game to cut the lead to a single point.

6:06pm- St. Joseph's Metuchen has taken a timeout with 2:32 to go, leading 48-47.

6:08pm- A beautiful pass from Rennard to Vastola led to an easy bucket, extending the Falcons' lead to three. Robbie Ashamole then scored to make it a five-point game, 52-47.

6:09pm- Vastola scored again, and then 'Lata turned the ball over. Gerard Lewis took the ball to the hole and scored, drawing a foul with 59.3 seconds left. The senior missed his free throw. St. Joe's leads 56-47.

6:10pm- A John Mack bucket has made it a seven-point affair, 56-49, with 47 seconds left.

6:14pm- St. Joe's has won 59-49.

6:20pm- Gamel Mohamed won MVP for Immaculata with 17 points, while Nikko Vastola's 27 points drew him the award for St. Joseph's Metuchen. I caught up with Theo Riddick after the game.