St. John's Surges Past Iona

 

Bryce Hopkins taking this layup along the baseline to out St. John's up 43-34 early in the second half. Photo by Jason Schott.

The St. John's Red Storm started slow, but a late-game surge led them to a comfortable 91-64 win over Iona at Saturday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.

St. John's, ranked 22nd in the nation in the AP Top 25 Poll, is now 6-3 on the season, and they were led by Oziyah Sellers, who had 19 points on 7-13 from the field, including 4-7 from behind the arc, with five rebounds and an assist.

Five other St. John's players scored in double-figures, starting with Ian Jackson, who had 14 points (4-11 FG, 1-7 threes), five rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Bryce Hopkins and Joson Sanon had 13 points apiece, while Dillon Mitchell and Lefteris Liotopoulos each contributed 10 points.

Iona came out strong, with a 10-2 burst in the opening five minutes before St. John's responded with an 18-2 run to take a 20-12 lead on a Joson Sanon three-pointer at the 8:48 mark. (pictured below)

Photo by Jason Schott.

The Red Storm took a 36-26 lead into the break, as Sanon led the way with 12 points.

Just as they did in the opening stanza, Iona came out strong in the second half, as they pulled to within four points, at 48-44 at the 14:22 mark on a CJ Anthony three-pointer.

Oziyah Sellers then buried a three, followed by a Bryce Hopkins layup on a fast break after he snatched a rebound, and sparked a 10-0 Red Storm run.

St. John's would soon after take a 21-point lead, at 69-48, as a Dillon Mitchell three-point play at 7:40 that capped an elongated 21-4 stretch.

St. John's put up 55 points and shot an astonishing 65.5 percent from the field in the second half, as they made 19 baskets on 29 attempts. They were also 46.2% on three-pointers, as they were 6-13 from behind the arc.