SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined more by grit than grace, Saint Joseph’s grinded out a 61-55 victory over Rhode Island in an Atlantic 10 Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at the Ryan Center.

The Hawks, who led 30-27 at halftime, never trailed in the second half but could not shake the Rams until the final minute. The win improved Saint Joseph’s to 19-10 overall, while Rhode Island fell to 15-14.

The game’s defining characteristic was abysmal shooting from both sides. Saint Joseph’s converted just 23 of 60 attempts from the floor, a 38.3% clip, and was a frigid 4 of 28 from three-point range. Rhode Island was worse, making only 17 of 62 field goals for 27.4% and hitting just 6 of 33 from beyond the arc. The teams combined to miss 55 of their 61 three-point attempts.

Saint Joseph’s compensated with superior defensive activity and ball movement. The Hawks recorded eight steals and seven blocks, led by Justice Ajogbor’s three rejections. They also dished out eight assists, doubling Rhode Island’s total of four. Derek Simpson, a guard from Mount Laurel, New Jersey, paced the Hawks with 13 points and five assists in 37 minutes.

The Rams, despite their shooting woes, stayed close through offensive rebounding, grabbing 15 to Saint Joseph’s 10, and by getting to the free-throw line, where they made 15 of 21. Tyler Cochran of Chicago led Rhode Island with 13 points, while Alex Crawford of Chula Vista, California, came off the bench to provide a crucial spark with 12 points, all in the second half.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the final 90 seconds with Saint Joseph’s clinging to a 57-55 lead. After a missed three-pointer by Rhode Island’s Myles Corey, Ajogbor secured the defensive rebound. On the ensuing possession, Simpson found Ajogbor for a powerful dunk with 36 seconds remaining, pushing the Hawks’ lead to four points and forcing a Rhode Island timeout.

Out of the stoppage, the Rams designed a play for Cochran, but his driving layup was emphatically blocked by Ajogbor with 15 seconds left. The loose ball went out of bounds off Rhode Island, effectively sealing the outcome. Jaiden Glover of Brooklyn, New York, then sank two free throws with 10 seconds left for the final margin.

Dasear Haskins of Willingboro, New Jersey, provided essential interior scoring for Saint Joseph’s, finishing with 14 points. Ajogbor, from Benin City, Nigeria, added nine points, nine rebounds and three blocks. For Rhode Island, Keeyan Itejere of Knightdale, North Carolina, scored 10 points and Jahmere Tripp of Brooklyn had 11 points.

The game, played before a crowd of 6,391, was a stark contrast to the pregame expectations. Rhode Island had been installed as a 4.5-point favorite, and the total score of 116 fell well under the over/under line of 137.5. Statistical projections gave Saint Joseph’s a 59% probability to win.

Saint Joseph’s, which has won three of its last four games, next visits Davidson on Wednesday. Rhode Island, which has lost three straight, will host Duquesne on Wednesday.