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St. John’s Falls to UConn, 83-69, For First Big East Loss

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A year that started out so magically for St. John’s ended with a result most fans would like to forget.

Four days removed from perhaps their best game of the season, St. John’s (7-6, 1-1) brought down the curtain on 2011 with an 83-69 loss to ninth-ranked Connecticut. (12-1, 2-0)

Despite coming up short in the end, the Red Storm got 17 points from guard D’Angelo Harrison and a career-high 14-point effort from Sir’Dominic Pointer in a performance that showcased the fighting spirit of the youngest team in St. John’s 104-year program history.

“We feel like we’ve been better since the Kentucky game,” remarked assistant coach Mike Dunlap after the game. “As we go down this trail, the confidence for us is going to be substantial.”

St. John’s was done in by a hot shooting UConn team that simply outplayed the seven-man Red Storm rotation. The Huskies connected on nine of their sixteen three-point attempts, and shot a blistering 71 percent (15-for-21) in the second half. Both teams will be in action again on Tuesday; and not too far away from each other either, as UConn travels to the Prudential Center in Newark to meet Seton Hall while St. John’s welcomes Louisville into Madison Square Garden. Until then, we’ll leave you with some lasting impressions to ring in 2012.

Lasting Impressions
– They won the game, but UConn is a different team without Jim Calhoun, who served the second of a three-game suspension today. The Huskies just didn’t look as sharp on either side of the ball in the absence of their Hall of Fame leader.

– UConn works best with a three-guard lineup. In addition to Jeremy Lamb, (15 points) the Huskies got tremendous contributions from Ryan Boatright (10 points off the bench) and Shabazz Napier, (17 points, nine assists) who earned tonight’s game ball for his ability to both run the point and play off the ball with Boatright on the court at the same time.

– UConn also has a deeper and more talented bench than St. John’s, and the reigning national champions made no secret of that en route to outscoring the Red Storm bench 23-0.

– Finally, give St. John’s credit for not backing down on either side of the ball. A 12-1 run late in the second half cut a 23-point deficit and have fans a reason to believe, and for a while it seemed as though the two sides were trading baskets for several minutes. The Red Storm also limited UConn to just a plus-4 rebounding margin (32-28) and only committed seven turnovers, a change from recent losses in which the miscues reached double digits.

Red Storm Look For 2-0 Big East Start Against Reigning National Champion UConn

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Records were made to be broken, and Moe Harkless proved that in his Big East debut by scoring 32 points to set a new standard for freshmen playing in their first game as a member of what has been described as the best conference in the nation.

Harkless’ St. John’s team used the career night to their advantage on the way to a 91-67 victory over Providence in their Big East opener.

Now, the seven men that comprise the youngest roster in program history get one of their biggest challenges when they make the two-hour trip to New England to square off against the reigning national champion Connecticut Huskies, who narrowly escaped their 2011-12 conference debut with a win when they defeated USF on the road by the final of 60-57.

Ninth-ranked UConn will be without the services of their Hall of Fame head coach, though; as Jim Calhoun serves the second of his three-game suspension imposed as a result of a recruiting scandal involving former prospect Nate Miles, one that Calhoun really did not have much involvement in from a big picture standpoint.

Longtime Calhoun assistant and former Seton Hall coach George Blaney will be at the helm tomorrow afternoon, and JohnnyJungle.com gives you the particulars and the analysis before the New Year’s Eve showdown with the defending champs in what will serve as game number two on the Big East ledger for both schools.

Date: Saturday, December 31, 2011
Location: XL Center; Hartford, Connecticut
Time: 12:00 PM EST
TV: SNY/ESPN3 (Bob Picozzi, Kara Lawson, Andy Katz)
Radio: WBBR 1130 AM (John Minko, Tim O’Toole)
Online: WSJURadio.org (Kieran Lynch, Vince Ruffino)

St. John’s Red Storm (7-5, 1-0)
Head Coach: Steve Lavin* (2nd season at STJ, 28-17; 173-95 overall)
* – Assistant coach Mike Dunlap will serve as interim coach while Lavin recovers from offseason prostate cancer surgery

Projected Starting Lineup:
G Phil Greene (6-2 Fr., 6.7 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 35% FG, 75% FT, 2.2 APG, 1.3 SPG)
G D’Angelo Harrison (6-3 Fr., 15.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 39% FG, 34% 3pt, 82% FT, 1.8 APG, 1.6 SPG)
F Sir’Dominic Pointer (6-5 Fr., 6.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 48% FG, 31% 3pt, 47% FT, 1.2 APG, 1.1 SPG)
F God’sgift Achiuwa (6-8 Jr., 12.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 55% FG, 73% FT, 1.2 BPG)
F Moe Harkless (6-8 Fr., 15.7 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 46% FG, 62% FT, 1.8 APG, 1.8 BPG, 1.8 SPG)

Key Reserves:
G Malik Stith (5-11 Jr., 3.4 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 44% FG, 43% 3pt, 67% FT, 1.3 APG)
F Amir Garrett (6-6 Fr., 2.5 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 67% FG, 50% FT, 1.5 APG, 1.0 SPG)

Keys To Victory:
– Avoid the bounce factor. Following a 24-point win in which Moe Harkless, D’Angelo Harrison and Phil Greene outscored Providence by themselves; the likelihood of a letdown is greater than usual, especially against a team the caliber of Connecticut. If St. John’s can attack the UConn frontcourt the way they did against teams the likes of Arizona and Texas A&M, the chances of an upset will improve.

– Guard play. Much like last season; the Huskies have three guards capable of changing the game at any given moment, which makes Greene and Harrison even more important than usual. With no other guards in their rotation, don’t be surprised to see Malik Stith play more minutes than usual in an attempt to combat the explosiveness of UConn’s backcourt.

– What’s up with Gift? A question asked by New York Daily News writer Roger Rubin at a press conference earlier in the season could once again be asked given the magnitude of tomorrow’s game. With the exception of the Kentucky game in which he posted his first and only career double-double, God’sgift Achiuwa has struggled against both marquee opponents and on the road. In three games against Arizona, Texas A&M and Detroit, Achiuwa has averaged just 4.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s now time to meet the reigning national champions.

No. 9 Connecticut Huskies (11-1, 1-0)
Head Coach: Jim Calhoun* (26th season at UConn, 618-232; 866-369 overall)
* – Associate head coach George Blaney will coach while Calhoun serves part of three-game suspension imposed by NCAA

Projected Starting Lineup:
G Shabazz Napier (6-1 So., 14.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 46% FG, 40% 3pt, 74% FT, 6.4 APG, 2.2 SPG)
G Jeremy Lamb (6-5 So., 19.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 52% FG, 40% 3pt, 82% FT, 1.6 APG, 2.0 SPG)
F Roscoe Smith (6-8 So., 3.9 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 41% FG, 73% FT)
F Alex Oriakhi (6-9 Jr., 7.1 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 48% FG, 53% FT, 1.3 BPG)
C Andre Drummond (6-10 Fr., 9.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 61% FG, 33% FT, 2.8 BPG)

Key Reserves:
G Ryan Boatright (6-0 Fr., 12.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 52% FG, 67% 3pt, 77% FT, 3.5 APG)
F Tyler Olander (6-9 So., 6.9 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 49% FG, 50% 3pt, 67% FT, 1.8 APG)
F DeAndre Daniels (6-8 Fr., 5.1 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 38% FG, 75% FT)

Keys To Victory:
– Third time is the charm. UConn has been soundly defeated by St. John’s in each of their last two meetings, both coming at Madison Square Garden. In March of 2010, the Red Storm defeated the Huskies in the first round of the Big East tournament by the final of 73-51 to burst what slim chances UConn had of remaining on the NCAA Tournament bubble; and picked up a 33-point performance from Dwight Hardy for an encore in the Johnnies’ 89-72 upset victory this past February in a game that featured many magic moments, with the halfcourt three-pointer that Malik Boothe banked off the backboard to beat the buzzer at halftime being one of them. UConn got the better of the Red Storm the last time the two teams squared off at the XL Center, and owns a lifetime record of 14-3 against St. John’s when the two sides take the court either in Hartford or at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs. In fact, St. John’s has not won in the Nutmeg State since January 16, 2000.

– The X factor. Many will bestow this title upon freshman guard Ryan Boatright due to his explosiveness off the bench, but UConn’s ace in the hole is really Tyler Olander. After struggling through most of his rookie season, the second-year forward has had a solid second-year campaign, with averages of nearly seven points and six rebounds in 25 minutes per game. Olander has truly blossomed as one of Jim Calhoun’s unsung heroes; and following a Big East tournament where he played some of the best games of his life, has really turned the corner for the Huskies.

– Embrace a shootout. This event could happen if both Jeremy Lamb and D’Angelo Harrison get off to quick starts tomorrow afternoon. Although he is as confident as they come, Harrison is a freshman that has yet to face the hostile environment created by the Connecticut fans. Lamb is also a better marksman on paper than his likely counterpart, shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc thus far this season. With Kemba Walker having graduated a year early and deciding to forgo his final year of eligibility in favor of the NBA; Jeremy has emerged as the go-to guy for the Huskies, and you can bet the ball will be in his hands come crunch time.

So, Who Wins?
 UConn overcame a scare from USF in the first of three games the Huskies will play without the services of Jim Calhoun behind the bench, and the Hall of Famer will miss his team’s next game against Seton Hall as well. For St. John’s, it does not get any easier on the way back from Connecticut’s state capital as Louisville and Rick Pitino will await them in a Madison Square Garden matchup that will open 2012. St. John’s will have recent history on their side by virtue of having won the last two meetings with UConn in convincing fashion, but this is a new team and they are contesting this matchup on the road as opposed to the friendly confines of the Garden. The Huskies come in with something to prove following those aforementioned defeats and their near-upset loss to USF, and the smart money will be on a Connecticut runaway. However, St. John’s is far more talented and competitive than their seven-man roster lets on. UConn takes it, but it won’t be decided until the final minute or so.

Final Score: Connecticut 79, St. John’s 70

St. John’s Scores Statement Win Over Providence In Big East Opener

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With just seven players in their rotation, it was not supposed to look this easy.

Thanks to career nights from two of their freshmen; one of whom set a new conference record, St. John’s (7-5, 1-0) played at a level that belied their tender age on their way to a 91-67 victory over Providence (11-3, 0-1) in the Big East opener for both squads.

“I didn’t even know that,” said Moe Harkless when informed of the fact that his 32 points broke a record for highest point total by a freshman in his Big East debut previously held by Troy Murphy and Allen Iverson. “I don’t know what to say. It’s an honor to be mentioned with those guys. Being able to break the record is a great feeling,” said the Queens native, who also had thirteen rebounds, four steals, and shot 14-of-17 from the field.

In addition to Harkless’ masterpiece, the Red Storm also got career bests from D’Angelo Harrison, whose 25 points and seven assists were personal highs for the Texan.

“What’s significant is that we were able to score that many points and play a team that came in pretty hot,” said assistant coach Mike Dunlap. “There’s lots that we can do to get better and our guys know that.” Gerard Coleman paced the Friars with 20 points in the losing effort for his sixteenth consecutive double-figure scoring game.

St. John’s hits the road in conference play for the first time this season when they tackle reigning national champion Connecticut on Saturday afternoon, but not before some highlights and turning points from last night’s statement win are shared first.

Lasting Impressions
– Moe Harkless’ 32 points broke the record for most points by a freshman in his Big East debut, eclipsing the old mark of 30 previously held by Troy Murphy and Allen Iverson. Coincidentally, both of those previous performances also came at Providence’s expense. Harkless also added thirteen rebounds, four steals and four assists on 14-of-17 shooting. That sounds like an effort worthy of our game ball to me.

– Last night’s 91 points were the most by St. John’s in a Big East opener since January 2, 1990 (93 against Connecticut) and most in any Big East game since March 4, 2001. (91 against Syracuse) The 91 points also represented the highest output overall since St. John’s scored 93 against Duke this past January. (Stats courtesy of Mark Fratto, St. John’s senior associate athletic director for communications and men’s basketball sports information director)

– The Red Storm won this game with their transition execution, scoring 34 points off 20 Providence turnovers and ending the night with fourteen steals. St. John’s also outscored the Friars 26-10 on fast breaks. Of the 20 turnovers; seven were committed by point guard Vincent Council, who entered the game with an assist to turnover ratio of greater than 2:1.

– Finally, the highlights were not restricted to the court. Providence head coach Ed Cooley gave the media a piece of his mind in his postgame press conference, and some of the memorable quotes are listed below:

– “Our kids were pathetic. I thought we were selfish today and we weren’t tough at all. That was very sad to see.”

– “We just didn’t pay attention to detail once the game started. To me, that shows a lack of focus.”

– “A blind man could have scored today. I promise you we will correct that.”

– “That was the worst defensive game I ever coached, and it will be addressed tomorrow at 6 a.m. Emphatically.”

Red Storm Open Big East Play At Home Against Ed Cooley and Providence

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The last time St. John’s took the court, it almost produced a result everyone would have loved to forget. Fortunately for the Red Storm and its vast fan base, Texas-Pan American’s attempts to walk away from Queens with a monumental upset of the Johnnies were thwarted by a game-ending 7-0 run from St. John’s. Six days removed from the closest of close calls this team has endured this season, the Red Storm open the 18-game natural selection exhibit known as Big East play when they take on Providence College at home tomorrow night. Below, JohnnyJungle.com gives you all the particulars leading up to the conference opener.

Date: Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Location: Carnesecca Arena; Jamaica, New York
Time: 7:00 PM EST
TV: MSG (Mike Crispino, John Celestand)
Radio: WBBR 1130 AM (John Minko, Tim O’Toole)
Online: WSJURadio.org (Tim Dimas, Jaden Daly)

St. John’s Red Storm (6-5)
Head Coach: Steve Lavin (2nd season at STJ, 27-17; 172-95 overall)

Projected Starting Lineup:
G Phil Greene (6-2 Fr., 6.2 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 36% FG, 69% FT, 2.2 APG, 1.2 SPG)
G D’Angelo Harrison (6-3 Fr., 14.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 36% FG, 34% 3pt, 81% FT, 1.4 APG, 1.5 SPG)
F Sir’Dominic Pointer (6-5 Fr., 6.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 51% FG, 36% 3pt, 47% FT, 1.0 APG, 1.1 SPG)
F God’sgift Achiuwa (6-8 Jr., 12.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 57% FG, 50% 3pt, 74% FT, 1.3 BPG)
F Moe Harkless (6-8 Fr., 14.2 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 42% FG, 62% FT, 1.5 APG, 1.7 BPG, 1.6 SPG)

Key Reserves:
G Malik Stith (5-11 Jr., 3.3 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 42% FG, 40% 3pt, 67% FT, 1.4 APG)
F Amir Garrett (6-6 Fr., 3 pts, 2 rebs, 1/2 FG and 1/2 FT in 15 minutes in collegiate debut 12/21 vs. UTPA)

Keys To Victory:
– Take care of the ball. In today’s pregame press conference, interim coach Mike Dunlap remarked about how impressed he was with Phil Greene’s baptism by fire at the point guard position. Since he is matched up with a point guard that has an assist to turnover ratio of greater than 2:1 in Providence’s Vincent Council, Greene will need to make handling the ball his top priority against a deceptively explosive Providence backcourt.

– The higher power. God’sgift Achiuwa comes into tomorrow night’s game off a career-high 22 points against Texas-Pan American last Wednesday, and will face an inexperienced frontcourt in the post. Providence is reintroducing Kadeem Batts to its lineup after a suspension cost him the first eleven games of the season; and although LaDontae Henton has been explosive out of the gate, he is still only a freshman. Achiuwa and Moe Harkless will be able to employ their size advantage early on if Batts comes off the bench as expected.

– Freshman orientation. In addition to the praise that Phil Greene drew earlier today; Amir Garrett was complimented just as much, and it’s easy to see why. Despite being with the team for only a week since being declared eligible, Garrett has demonstrated the ability to be far more mature than an average person his age. The rookie has used this skill to his advantage in practice, as Mike Dunlap noticed that his character has enabled him to embrace the challenges surrounding the Red Storm easier and faster than he would have expected. However, Garrett is still a work in progress, and should get an increased opportunity to prove himself tomorrow night.

Making the trip down Interstate 95 to open their Big East season against the Red Storm for the second time in four years are the Friars of Providence College.

Providence Friars (11-2)
Head Coach: Ed Cooley (1st season at PC, 11-2; 103-71 overall)

Projected Starting Lineup:
G Vincent Council (6-2 Jr., 16.9 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 42% FG, 60% FT, 6.9 APG, 1.1 SPG)
G Bryce Cotton (6-1 So., 15.7 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 47% FG, 43% 3pt, 91% FT, 2.0 APG, 1.3 SPG)
G Gerard Coleman (6-4 So., 15.8 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 47% FG, 72% FT, 2.2 APG, 1.2 SPG)
F LaDontae Henton (6-6 Fr., 13.1 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 45% FG, 34% 3pt, 65% FT, 1.0 APG, 1.1 BPG, 1.3 SPG)
F Ron Giplaye (6-6 So., 1.6 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 54% FG, 37% FT)

Key Reserves:
F Kadeem Batts (6-9 So., 8.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 64% FG, 25% FT)
F Bilal Dixon (6-9 Jr., 2.9 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 52% FG, 89% FT, 1.1 BPG)
F Brice Kofane (6-8 Fr., 2.8 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 55% FG, 52% FT, 1.8 BPG)

Keys To Victory:
– Conditioning. Ed Cooley is now the beneficiary of a nine-man rotation now that Kadeem Batts is back in the fold, and four of his starters average 35 or more minutes played per game. Not coincidentally, those four players are all averaging at least thirteen points per night as well. Cooley mentioned in an interview earlier today that he has worked on executions inside the last four minutes of every game; so if this one goes down to the wire, the Friars will have a mental edge based on what they have gone through in practice.

– Ball strong and ball quick. Those were Cooley’s words when asked what the keys to victory would be against a defensively gifted team the likes of St. John’s. The coach mentioned that his team could ill afford to turn the ball over (they have only one more assist than turnovers this season as a team) and could not get outrebounded either. Fortunately for the Friars, they have averaged a plus-5 margin on the glass through thirteen games, pulling down 40 boards while yielding just 35. Sophomore guard Gerard Coleman will be a factor here, as he has played more like a swingman by virtue of Providence’s three-guard lineup. Initially starting the season as a reserve, Coleman’s inclusion into the starting lineup has propelled the Friars to their current seven-game winning streak.

– Flashbacks. On paper, the statistics for sophomore shooting guard Bryce Cotton and freshman forward LaDontae Henton are very impressive. When those numbers translate to the court, however, St. John’s fans will recognize shades of former Red Storm legends in each one. With a 43 percent success rate from three-point range and a 91 percent mark from the free throw line to go with averages of two assists and over one steal per game, Cotton draws comparisons to Dwight Hardy; while Henton’s averages of thirteen points and eight rebounds per game coupled with a 34 percent shooting effort from beyond the arc is enough of a reason to liken the freshman from Michigan to former swingman D.J. Kennedy.

So, Who Wins?
Each team has too much to gain and seemingly just as much to lose going into their second Big East contests on Saturday. Providence continues down Interstate 95 to face Georgetown at the Verizon Center, while the Red Storm go into New England for a collision with reigning national champion Connecticut. If St. John’s is to pull this out, it will not come easy given the thin roster they have to work with throughout the season. However, Providence has not been as battle tested as the Red Storm, with a road victory at Fairfield in the second game of the year serving as the Friars’ signature nonconference matchup. Games are not played on paper, though; and in a game that will come down to the final minute just as last year’s installment of the Red Storm-Friars rivalry did, Providence uses their deceptively explosive offense to get up in their conference opener.

Final Score: Providence 72, St. John’s 68

Amir Garrett Joins St. John’s, Red Storm face Texas Pan-American

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No Lindsey, no problem.

That described St. John’s win last Saturday against Fordham, as the Red Storm pulled out the victory with a six-man rotation in their first game without Nurideen Lindsey running the point. Now back at .500, the Red Storm welcome Texas-Pan American to Carnesecca Arena in their final nonconference game before the start of Big East play this Tuesday against Providence.

Also, for his season debut, Amir Garrett will suit up and be able to play for St. John’s.

JohnnyJungle.com gets you closer to what you need to know below before tonight’s opening tip.

Date: Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Location: Carnesecca Arena; Jamaica, New York
Time: 7:00 PM EST
TV: ESPN3/espn3.com via STJ-TV (Tony Luftman, Tarik Turner)
Radio: WBBR 1130 AM (John Minko, Tim O’Toole)
Online: WSJURadio.org (Tim Dimas, John Sudolsky)

St. John’s Red Storm (5-5)
Head Coach: Steve Lavin (2nd season at STJ, 26-17; 171-95 overall)

Projected Starting Lineup:
G Phil Greene (6-2 Fr., 6.4 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 36% FG, 69% FT, 2.0 APG, 1.1 SPG)
G D’Angelo Harrison (6-3 Fr., 13.5 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 34% FG, 32% 3pt, 82% FT, 1.4 APG, 1.6 SPG)
F Sir’Dominic Pointer (6-5 Fr., 6.7 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 52% FG, 40% 3pt, 48% FT, 1.1 APG, 1.0 SPG)
F God’sgift Achiuwa (6-8 Jr., 11.3 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 54% FG, 75% FT, 1.3 BPG)
F Moe Harkless (14.7 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 42% FG, 64% FT, 1.3 APG, 1.8 BPG, 1.7 SPG)

Key Reserves:
G Malik Stith (5-11 Jr., 3.4 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 43% FG, 40% 3pt, 67% FT, 1.5 APG), Amir Garrett

Keys To Victory:
– Slow and steady wins the race. With a six-man rotation, the biggest factor in this game will be conditioning. St. John’s can ill afford to burn themselves out in a game like this with the Big East season starting in just another six days. Therefore, the tendency to show off will have to be reined in through most of the first half. Conservative basketball will serve the Red Storm well in the opening minutes in this matchup.

– Don’t look too far ahead. Not only does St. John’s have a winnable game tonight, their Big East opener against Providence (currently 10-2) is also a matchup that some fans are tipping the scales toward the Johnnies in before their New Year’s Eve clash with reigning national champion Connecticut. With two games where they will be favored, (one of them heavily) St. John’s needs to take this upcoming stretch one game at a time going into the start of conference play and beyond.

– Welcome to the family. After initially being declared ineligible, swingman Amir Garrett has finally arrived on the bench. The left-handed two-sport star has earned the respect of the fans by upholding his commitment to the Red Storm; and if he does make his collegiate debut tonight, expect an ovation similar to the rousing hands former walk-on Kevin Clark received every time he touched the court.

Now, to familiarize everyone with a little-known opponent…

Texas-Pan American (UTPA) Broncs (4-9)
Head Coach: Ryan Marks (3rd season at UTPA, 16-61; 164-144 overall)

Projected Starting Lineup:
G Nick Weiermiller (6-1 Sr., 4.6 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 39% FG, 34% 3pt, 80% FT, 3.5 APG)
G Brandon Provost (6-3 Jr., 12.6 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 38% FG, 38% 3pt, 80% FT, 2.2 APG)
G Jared Maree (6-3 Sr., 14.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 51% FG, 38% 3pt, 64% FT, 1.5 APG)
F Earl Jefferson (6-5 Jr., 4.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 42% FG, 60% FT)
F Ruben Cabrera (6-7 Jr., 7.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 49% FG, 39% 3pt, 57% FT)

Key Reserves:
G Aaron Urbanus (6-0 Jr., 6.2 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 38% FG, 36% 3pt, 55% FT, 1.4 APG)
G Jesus Delgado (6-4 Jr., 3.5 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 34% FG, 62% FT, 1.6 APG)
F Josh Cleveland (6-6 So., 3.4 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 38% FG, 40% FT)

Keys To Victory:
– Confidence. Anything can happen on any given day, and UTPA will look to prove that old adage to be true. Still reclassifying from Division II, the Broncs will look to use their long-range proficiency to keep the Red Storm defense at work throughout the night in the hope of doing what Kennesaw State did last year when they knocked off Georgia Tech in Atlanta.

– Experience against top teams. UTPA may play in the lightly-regarded Great West Conference, but the Broncs have challenged themselves through thirteen games this season. With contests against the likes of DePaul, Northwestern and second-ranked Ohio State already under their belt, UTPA is up for the challenge against a six-man St. John’s roster.

– One-man show. The Broncs have three players averaging more than ten points per game, but Jared Maree has established himself as the star of this team. Coming into this contest with a clip of 14.8 points per game and a 38 percent mark from three point range, the most impressive statistic on Maree’s ledger is his ability to take high percentage shots. At 51 percent, he is UTPA’s top shooter from the field, and will likely get a number of opportunities to capitalize off of that against a St. John’s unit that has been historically susceptible to giving up a big game to a particular player.

So, Who Wins?
UTPA will come into this contest with an “us against the world” mentality, and rightfully so. Even if Amir Garrett does make his debut tonight as expected, don’t be surprised to see UTPA compete early and get a few triples and mid-range jumpers to keep it close against the Red Storm. With Big East play approaching, St. John’s is well aware of what is at stake here. It’s not going to be a clinic for either side, but the Johnnies get the job done to open conference play with a 6-5 record.

Final Score: St. John’s 73, UTPA 55