PHILADELPHIA -- Jameer Nelson couldn't resist a half-court bounce pass when Delonte West was open on the fast-break.
"That was probably the flashiest pass I'll ever make," Nelson said. "I like to keep it straight."
Nelson scored 18 points and Dwayne Jones added a career-high 13 points in No. 12 Saint Joseph's 84-52 victory over San Francisco on Tuesday night.
West and Chet Stachitas each scored 13 points and Pat Carroll had 11 for the Hawks.
The Hawks (4-0) dominated from the outset, scoring the first 10 points and holding leads of 27-4 and 34-14 en route to a 46-18 halftime advantage.
Nelson opened the game with a 3-pointer from the top of the arc and Carroll followed with one of his own two possessions later. The rout was on, as the Hawks made 12 of their first 18 shots.
"We really put our foot on their throat and kept it there," Nelson said. "We were just having fun out there."
Nelson, a preseason All-America selection, showed flashes of why he's considered a potential first-round pick, turning a couple of steals into layups, hitting some pull-up jumpers off the break and dishing some crisp passes underneath for easy layups.
His bounce pass to West came early in the second half and energized a crowd that was growing as bored as the Dons (3-4).
"He's the best in America," Hawks coach Phil Martelli said. "He's just special. We'll never see another one like him."
San Francisco coach Phil Mathews stood the entire game with his arms folded staring passively as the Dons committed 15 turnovers in the first half.
James Bayless led the Dons with 16 points.
"They jumped on us quick. We had nothing," Mathews said.
Stachitas and West sank consecutive 3-pointers, giving Saint Joseph's a 41-14 lead.
The Hawks had 14 assists on 18 baskets in the half, including six from West and five from Nelson.
"I'm just glad I'm on the other side of that," West said. "We sensed it during tipoff. We could tell they were a little reluctant. We just took advantage of that."
Saint Joseph's forced 24 turnovers and had 22 assists.
"This team is predicated on ball pressure, sharing the basketball and trying to run the floor as hard as you can," Martelli said. "We held to our standard tonight."
The Hawks smothered San Francisco and the Dons seemed to panic and rush shots as their deficit widened. The Dons went 7-for-24 from the floor in the first half and had only two free-throw attempts.
The Hawks were 11-of-25 from 3-point range.
Saint Joseph's starters sat out most of the last 10 minutes of the game, but the Hawks still stretched the lead to 41.
"We're not good enough to put our jersey out there and think they're scared of us," Martelli said. "I don't ever get concerned about it being too easy."
San Francisco scheduled the game for guard John Cox, of Philadelphia, to play in his hometown. Cox, however, is out four to six weeks with a knee sprain.
"That would have been a treat for that kid," Martelli said. "He works out here more in the summer than my players do."
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