What started as a promising afternoon ended with the same result as the previous game.
After carrying the team throughout the day, freshman forward Moe Harkless fouled out with just over five minutes remaining in a call that proved to be St. John’s undoing as the Red Storm (8-9, 2-4) were outscored 16-4 over the final segment of a 69-49 loss to No. 11 Georgetown (14-3, 4-2) at Madison Square Garden.
Harkless had been the team’s lone bright spot during a game in which the Red Storm looked for their fourth consecutive home victory against their archrivals. Instead, today’s crushing loss drops St. John’s below .500 for the first time in over a month; as the Hoyas picked up their first victory in New York since the 2010 Big East tournament, and first in the Garden against St. John’s since January of 2008.
While the Johnnies hit the road to face a suddenly resurgent USF, we take a look at what could have been and what ultimately unfolded in today’s lasting impressions.
Lasting Impressions
– Despite not having his services for the final 5:15 of regulation, Harkless’ 21-point, 10-rebound outing is still good enough for today’s game ball. Harkless notched his sixth career double-double on a night where D’Angelo Harrison had what could be described as his worst game in a Red Storm uniform. Sadly for St. John’s fans, today proved that foul trouble is still a danger that is an instant killer to this team whenever it is encountered.
– Through most of the game, this contest had all the makings of a typical St. John’s-Georgetown matchup of years past, with enough runs, counterpunches and defense to go around for each team.
– At the beginning of the game, Georgetown employed a zone defense that took the Red Storm out of their element after St. John’s opened the game on a 13-5 run. Once the Hoyas became the aggressors on both sides of the ball, they outscored St. John’s 20-6 through the rest of the opening stanza to take a 25-19 halftime lead.
– Finally, the offense is starting to take shape for the Red Storm halfway through the season. As Moe Harkless and/or D’Angelo Harrison go, so too does the rest of the team. Today did reveal one new facet of Mike Dunlap’s halfcourt game, though; and that is Harrison’s proficiency at the point guard position. Although he seems like your atypical point guard, Harrison displayed a poise and familiarity running the offense that has still yet to be seen from fellow freshman Phil Greene, who sees the bulk of the minutes as the quarterback of St. John’s offensive effort.
We stink