St. John's Takes It To 11 As They Pound Providence

 

The St. John's bench reacts to a big basket. @StJohnsBball.

The St. John's Red Storm won their 11th straight game on Saturday afternoon, as they pulled one out at Providence, 79-69.

This was the Red Storm's 10th straight road win in Big East conference play, dating back to last season, a new school record.

St. John's is 20-5 overall, and more importantly, now 13-1 in Big East Conference play. They remain a half-game behind the Connecticut Huskies, who survived a battle at home against Georgetown, 79-75, at home. 

It also was significant because Providence is the only team to beat St. John's, way back on January 3, at Madison Square Garden, when they stunned them in the second half.

The memory of that game from six weeks ago must have been fresh in the Red Storm's minds, as they raced out to a 17-5 lead in the opening six minutes, and they led by as many as 13 before Providence pulled to within five points, at 34-29, at halftime.

Providence grabbed a 40-39 lead in the early stages of the second half when Duncan Powell thought it was a good time to exact revenge at the 14:25 mark.

Bryce Hopkins, who transferred from Providence to St. John's this season, was racing to the hoop on a fast break when Powell went right at him, clotheslining him before he touched the rim, sending Hopkins flying.

No question Powell was not going for the ball, so he was assessed a Flagrant 2 technical foul, meriting an ejection. A brawl ensued, which resulted in six players being ejected. 

When play resumed, Oziyah Sellers made one of his two free throws, and Hopkins converted on his two. St. John's also was given the ball, leading to Sellers making a layup.

Then, after a quick stop, Dylan Darling drained a three-pointer to cap an 8-0 run and make it 47-40 St. John's.

Another Darling basket at 12:32, after he got a steal, put the Red Storm up nine, at 52-43.

Providence pulled within six soon after before the Red Storm opened up a 13-point edge, 71-58, on a pair of Zuby Ejiofor free throws with 5:00 remaining.

Darling led the way for St. John's, as he had 23 points on 6-11 from the field, including 3-5 on three-pointers, and he was 8-9 from the free throw line, with eight rebounds and three steals.

Ejiofor had 14 points (4-7 FG, 6-9 FT), four rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Oziyah Sellers had 11 points (5-11 FG), three rebounds, and an assist. Hopkins just missed a double-double, as he had nine points and nine rebounds, with two steals and an assist.

Providence was led by Stefan Vaaks, who had 20 points on 5-19 shooting, including 3-12 on three-pointers, and 7-8 from the charity stripe, with five rebounds, three assists, and a steal.

PITINO POSTGAME: St. John's Head Coach Rick Pitino addressed the media after the game, and he opened with this statement on the fight early in the second half: "I think you saw it as well as me, but I didn't have the film in front of me to look at everybody. But you know, you're not supposed to come off the bench, but you can't let your players get beat up."

On the crowd: "I think the crowd lost objectivity of what they're here for. If they're just here to poke fun at Bryce Hopkins and not get a win for the Friars, that;s on the Friars I remember in '87." (referring to when he coached up there).

On the game's extra curriculars: "We didn't initiate anything. We talked toughness as not turning the ball over, creating steals, getting offensive rebounds. That's what we believe toughness is, and that's all we talked about throughout the entire time. And we made some big plays."