Of all the 5 losses St. John's has had to open Big East play
last night's 84-83 loss to Providence
was easily the most difficult to take.
"This
was a high level Big East game," coach Steve Lavin said. "We just
came up short."
The
Johnnies effort was indeed praise worthy as they rallied from an early double digit
deficit. Providence built a 14-2 lead as St. John's seemed nervous staring down
the barrel at an 0-5 start in conference
play. But they were able to find offensive answers primarily in the
paint from JaKarr Sampson. They trailed by just 36-29 at the intermission,
which put St. John's in pretty good position in despite the starting backcourt
of D'angelo Harrison and Rysheed Jordan scoring just two points between them.
St.
John's continued to pound the paint in the second half. They tied the game at
50 with just under 9 minutes left when Jordan fed God'sgift Achiuwa but
Providence was able to rebuild a lead thanks mostly to Bryce Cotton. Each time
the Friars appeared to put distance between themselves and St. John's the Red
Storm found their way back. Sampson , Achiuwa and Orlando Sanchez helped give
St. John's 54 points in the paint. And when they finally took their first lead
with just over three minutes left it was on a Harrison three pointer that was
St. John's first in 10 tries. It came on a scramble situation thanks to an offensive
rebound by Sanchez.
St.
John's had chances to win as time ran out in regulation and in each of the
overtimes. Harrison fed Sanchez for a
great look from the top of the key that he missed. At the end of overtime
one Harrison waited till the clock ran
down but ended up losing the ball and shooting an off balance shot. And then,
in the second overtime with St. John's up one Bryce Cotton alertly tied up Max
Hooper to give the ball to the Friars on alternate possession with 21 seconds
left. He then made a tough right handed runner to give the Friars the winning
margin and score the last of his game high 21 points. According to Lavin Hooper
was in the game at that point because Sampson's leg cramped up and they needed
a good shooter. Cotton likely recognized that Hooper was not strong with the
ball and was able to get the tie up rather than giving a foul to gain
possession for the Friars.
St.
John's then put the ball in the hands of their fastest player Phil Greene. On
the play things "broke the way we expected" according to Lavin
because the threat of Harrison's shot kept potential help defense from
providence honest. But even with everyone spaced properly and a good drive from
Greene the layup missed. Achiuwa, who gave St. John's a much needed physical
presence fouled on the rebound and the Friars' Carson Derossiers purposely missed
the two free throws with less than a second remaining.
St.
John's now takes a break from Big East play on Saturday against Dartmouth on
Saturday.
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