Cincinnati Postgame Links Rematch

AP story

St. John's failed to make a field goal over the last 8:58, letting its 12-point lead evaporate, but Malik Boothe and Justin Brownlee hit late free throws Sunday that rallied the Red Storm to their second win in four days, 59-57 over Cincinnati.

St. John's (15-9, 7-5 Big East) led 52-40, then missed its last six shots from the field. Cincinnati pulled ahead 56-53 on Ibrahima Thomas' driving lay-in with 2:07 to go.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=310442132

St. John's got a little sweet payback Sunday.

The Red Storm avenged a Jan. 22 loss to Cincinnati at Carnesecca Arena by upending the Bearcats 59-57 before 7,374 at Fifth Third Arena. When the Johnnies lost their first meeting, it was because everything went wrong for them at the free throw line. This time everything that could go right, basically did.

Nothing was bigger than when Malik Boothe went to the line to shoot a one-and-one with 42.4 seconds on the clock and St. John's trailing 57-56. Boothe missed the shot, but got the shot back when Cincinnati was called for a lane violation. Boothe then made the front end and the back for the final lead change of the game.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/college/2011/02/13/2011-02-13_st_johns_boosts_ncaa_tournament_resume_as_malik_boothes_free_throws_seal_win_ove.html

St. John’s failed to make a field goal over the last 8:58, letting its 12-point lead evaporate, but Malik Boothe and Justin Brownlee hit late free throws Sunday that rallied the Red Storm to their second win in four days, 59-57 over Cincinnati.

St. John’s (15-9, 7-5 Big East) led 52-40, then missed its last six shots from the field. Cincinnati pulled ahead 56-53 on Ibrahima Thomas’ driving lay-in with 2:07 to go.

Boothe’s two free throws put the Red Storm ahead 58-57 with 42 seconds left. After Rashad Bishop missed a leaning jumper in traffic, Brownlee was fouled and made the first of his two free throws with 3.5 seconds to go.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/college/basketball/st_john_edges_cincinnati_after_blowing_FiSw0Df36txwHrdbnrej9M#ixzz1DsT7lsKO

Mick Cronin Post-Game Press Conference

http://www.gobearcats.com/allaccess/?media=223544

The University of Cincinnati overcame a 12-point deficit with 8:59 to go to take a 3-point lead with 1:27 remaining but was unable to close the deal, falling to St. John’s, 59-57, Sunday afternoon before 7,374 at Fifth Third Arena.

With UC leading by one, Malike Boothe - aided by a lane violation against
Rashad Bishop - made two free throws with 42.4 seconds left to give St. John’s a 58-57 lead.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110213/SPT0101/302130027

St. John's improves to 15-9 on the season, and 7-5 in the Big East. The Red Storm get revenge for a 53-51 loss to Cincinnati at Carnesecca Arena on Jan. 22. More importantly, they pick up their first road victory since New Year's Day at Providence, and move one step closer to making the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2002.

Two more wins in their final six regular-season games, and St. John's will finish at least .500 in Big East play -- that should be enough to punch their Dance ticket. Pretty soon, we may be talking about what seed the Johnnies will get, as opposed to whether they'll get in the tournament.

Cincinnati drops to 19-6, and 6-6 in the Big East.

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/colleges/post/_/id/1624/rapid-reaction-st-johns-59-cincinnati-57

he nine active seniors on the St. John's team moved one step closer to realizing a dream Sunday when the Red Storm beat Cincinnati, 59-57, at Fifth Third Arena. They have longed to be a part of the NCAA Tournament but never really have been close.

"It would be great because it's something we all wanted when we were recruited here," said Malik Boothe, one of the seven seniors in the program for a fourth season. "We wanted to help rebuild St. John's and get back in the tournament, win for us and lay a foundation for the classes after us."

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/college/2011/02/14/2011-02-14_st_johns_seniors_see_ncaa_tournament_dream_nearing_reality_with_each_big_east_co.html