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St. John’s Loses Heartbreaker, Falls to Texas A&M, 58-57

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Playing their second game in less than 24 hours, there were times when St. John’s looked fatigued. At other times, the Red Storm looked like one of the more experienced teams in the nation. At the end, it all came down to two free throws.

Sent to the line with 2.3 seconds remaining in regulation and a chance to win the game for St. John’s, Nurideen Lindsey missed both foul shots, and the ensuing rebound attempt by the Red Storm was unsuccessful as No. 18 Texas A&M (3-1) escaped Madison Square Garden with a hard-fought 58-57 win.

For the Red Storm, it is another experience that will serve them well throughout the season, which resumes this Tuesday at Carnesecca Arena against St. Francis College.

“Our players did an admirable job of scratching and clawing to get back and have a lead,” said St. John’s head coach Steve Lavin. “Both games, we couldn’t put away an opponent with something we can control.”

D’Angelo Harrison tied Lindsey for the team scoring lead with 12 points, while Moe Harkless and Phil Greene added ten points each.

Ray Turner paced the Aggies with 16 points, while Elston Turner (no relation) hit the game-winning shot with six seconds left in regulation. The Aggies only attempted three free throws to the 38 taken by St. John’s, winning the game, despite such a massive disparity.

“I really liked our team’s character,” Texas A&M coach Billy Kennedy said after the game. “They were really disappointed with the way they played last night. We threw the first punch, and that’s how we want to play.”

While St. John’s regroups and carries on with this young season, we’ll recap the highlights and turning points of tonight’s contest with our “Lasting Impressions.”

Lasting Impressions
– First and foremost, tonight’s key stat was the 38-3 disparity in free throw attempts that favored St. John’s. The Red Storm defense did a much better job of holding their own against the Aggies’ big men, despite being outscored 38-18 in the paint.

– As a whole, Nurideen Lindsey’s teammates expect him to bounce back after missing those two last-second free throws. Both Phil Greene and D’Angelo Harrison alluded to Lindsey carrying the team when they met the media after the game, and both expect the point guard to have a breakout season.

– The Texas A&M bench proved to make a difference in tonight’s game, as some may have expected given its depth and size advantage in contrast to St. John’s. Freshman point guard Jamal Branch contributed seven points and five rebounds, while forward Kourtney Roberson pulled down 11 rebounds, including six on the offensive glass.

– Finally, tonight’s game ball goes to the St. John’s defense. The Red Storm forced an Aggie team that came into the game shooting 54 percent from the field to abandon their high percentage shot selection, as Texas A&M shot an uncharacteristic 43 percent (26-for-60) from the field. The performance was marked by numerous possessions in which the Aggies looked to bury St. John’s, but were unable to.

Valiant Effort Not Enough For St. John’s In 81-72 Loss To Arizona

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For a team on which all but one player was making their Madison Square Garden debut, the youngest group in program history looked like a bunch that had been on the big stage before, or at least they did for the first thirty-six minutes.

Through those first thirty-six minutes, St. John’s held their own against the first ranked opponent Steve Lavin‘s squad has faced this season, but the Red Storm (3-1) ran out of gas, falling to No. 15 Arizona (4-0) at Madison Square Garden by the final of 81-72.

Four Johnnies provided double-figure scoring efforts, led by Nurideen Lindsey‘s 18 points. Despite the strong performance, Lindsey fouled out with 4:01 remaining in regulation, depriving St. John’s of their offensive sparkplug. Once Lindsey exited the game, Arizona reeled off a 16-4 run to take the lead for good, giving head coach Sean Miller a birthday present on the night he turned 43.

“Tonight, we showed our experience from some of our guys, having been in the winner’s circle from last year,” said Miller after the game. “When you go on the road for the first time; and you’re down in your first road game like we were, you can self-destruct. St. John’s has a very underrated team. They have so many players who could really put the ball on the floor, and we fell into that.”

In addition to Lindsey, D’Angelo Harrison also had an impressive Garden debut, finishing with 16 points, but his second-half productivity was hindered after picking up three fouls before the intermission.

Despite the loss, the leader of the Red Storm is still happy with what his players brought to the court. “Tonight demonstrated that we have a long way to go,” said Steve Lavin, “but there are a lot of positives to take away from this game.”

As St. John’s prepares for their second game in as many days, (later today against Texas A&M) we recap the key points inside last night’s matchup in our latest edition of “Lasting Impressions.”

Lasting Impressions
– First and foremost, last night’s game proved once and for all that Nurideen Lindsey is the “hub of the wheel” in the Red Storm offense in much the same way that D.J. Kennedy, and ultimately Dwight Hardy, were a year ago. Lindsey did a great job attacking the basket and driving inside the paint for most of the night, but St. John’s was a different team after the Philadelphia native fouled out with 4:01 left in regulation. The Red Storm were already in the midst of a 9-0 Arizona run when Lindsey departed, and the team only managed four points in his absence.

– Sir’Dominic Pointer got the start in place of God’sgift Achiuwa, who was benched at the start of the game for missing the team bus on the way to the game. Pointer provided an underrated seven rebounds, but Achiuwa had the least productive game to date in his young career, with just four points and two rebounds, while shooting 2-of-6 from the field.

– Just as hot outside shooting dug the Red Storm into a hole in each of their first two games, the same held true Thursday night. Arizona shot 48 percent (14-for-29) from three-point range, compared to the 3-of-8 effort managed by the Red Storm. For what it’s worth, St. John’s did do a much better job than anticipated against the Arizona frontcourt, outscoring the Wildcats 36-20 in the paint.

– Finally, Thursday night’s game ball will be distributed collectively to the Arizona team, who placed five players in double figures, led by Solomon Hill, who had 15 points. Jesse Perry posted a double-double, chipping in with eleven points and ten rebounds. The Wildcats also got contributions from their deep and talented bench, led by Nick Johnson (11 points) and Bronx native Kevin Parrom, who had six points and five assists in his second game back since the death of his mother and an offseason incident in which he was shot. Arizona’s biggest contribution to the box score was forcing 17 St. John’s turnovers and turning them into 22 points, while only committing just ten miscues of their own, six below their season average, to that point.

The Shoeless Bandit: Malik Stith Steals Spotlight in 83-59 Win Over UMBC

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You wouldn’t have noticed if you weren’t paying attention.

On Friday afternoon, junior guard Malik Stith sat behind the table in St. John’s media room, a table with a red, floor-length banner that obscured the lower half of his seated body, and took questions, preceding St. John’s Sunday matchup with UMBC.

When the questioning had ended, Stith said, “Thank you,” got up, and left, heading out to, presumably, the St. John’s training room.

As he walked out the door, it became apparent: that man isn’t wearing any socks or shoes. At that point, it was really just an anecdotal detail.

When Stith eventually slid on some socks and tied his white and red Nikes for Sunday’s game versus UMBC, he put on one of the most impressive performances of his college career, turning his barefoot pregame interview into something more.

Stith, who has said that he partly blamed himself for the slow starts that had plagued this young St. John’s team, helped to spark a 9-1 run coming out of the gate in the second half that put the Red Storm in the driver’s seat for good, on their way to a dominating 83-59 victory.

“I think overall, it gives our team a huge lift, his aggression,” said sophomore guard Nurideen Lindsey, who came one assist shy of a triple-double, tallying 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists. “Offensively, he had a little pace going with himself. Him being our leader, we need that aggression and that intensity every night.”

Malik Stith's breakout performance against UMBC was his most impressive since last year's season opener vs. St. Mary's (Ca.). (Photo: Dave Krupinski)
After scoring no points and turning the ball over once in the first half, Stith was aggressive in transition and in the half court, scoring seven points in the first three minutes of the second.

He went on to score 11 points on a very efficient 4/7 from the floor, two points shy of a career 13 in last year’s season opener versus St. Mary’s (Ca.).

“We kind of inverted, in long stretches, the game and had Malik run out and let Phil [Greene] or Nuri [Lindsey] push the ball,” head coach Steve Lavin explained, after the game. “And, when Malik gets catches down the floor in the scattered court, he’s got some nice cutback moves.”

Stith showed aggressiveness that has only been seen in flashes during his two-plus years at St. John’s, attacking the rim and sticking to his patented efficiency, turning the ball over just once in 27 minutes.

With only a seven-man rotation for St. John’s until at least December, the importance of Stith’s timely productivity will be amplified in upcoming games against Arizona, Kentucky, and Detroit.

If he can become a consistent contributor, along with his assumed role as the only player with more than three games of basketball experience at the Division I level, it will go a long way in smoothing the transition of the other, less experienced members of the Red Storm.

In his two years at St. John’s, Stith has not been used as a primary scoring option, but it appears a new role may be emerging for the Hempstead, Long Island native.

“He’s sturdy enough, in terms of the broad shoulders and the strength that he brings that he can get to the rim and finish,” said Lavin. “Based on the last couple games, it looks like, Malik may be better running the floor and getting catches, kind of like yards after the catch in football, and get to the hoop and try to draw a foul or score.”

And, though his status as the team’s elder statesman has earned him the nickname “Pops,” he’s still young and spry in his old age; he just has his slip-ups, on occasion.

Next time, someone just needs to remind him about his shoes.

St. John’s Crushes UMBC, Heads To Garden 3-0 for Thursday’s Matchup With Arizona

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Nurideen Lindsey Back of Jersey

After two games that needed second-half comebacks to pull out a victory, St. John’s fans were eager to see their team execute for a full 40 minutes. Even though the Red Storm trailed by seven points early in the first half, it was as far behind as they would fall for the remainder of the afternoon.

After the St. John’s men’s soccer team won this year’s Big East championship, giving fans at Carnesecca Arena reason enough to cheer, five players scored in double figures for Steve Lavin’s squad as the Red Storm rolled to a convincing 82-59 victory over UMBC.

Although Moe Harkless led all scorers with 18 points, it was sophomore guard Nurideen Lindsey who provided the headline performance.

Lindsey came within one assist of recording the first St. John’s triple-double since 1999, finishing with 15 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

“I think we were all trying to go in the same direction collectively,” said the first-year guard.

Head coach Steve Lavin praised his floor leader by calling his game today a “special performance, and it was understated.”

St. John’s fell behind 10-3 early, but took the lead for good on a jumper by Lindsey at the 11-minute mark of the first half.

Nurideen Lindsey's near-triple-double helped to life the Red Storm to 3-0 on the year. (Photo: Dave Krupinski)
D’Angelo Harrison had a solid game as well, with 17 points and five rebounds, while God’sgift Achiuwa was a blessing in the paint, chipping in with 15 points and eight rebounds.

However, it was elder statesman Malik Stith who provided the surprise of the day by contributing 11 points in 27 minutes.

“What I told the kids that impressed me was kind of a methodical, deliberate, and mature way that we separated ourselves from UMBC,” said Lavin. “Right from the jump, I liked where our team’s temperament, bearings and collective energy were at.”

St. John’s heads into Madison Square Garden for the first time this season to face No. 16 Arizona on Thursday night in what will be the biggest game in the careers of most of these players, to date. Below, we recap the highlights of today’s game, as well as prepare for Thursday night’s battle with Sean Miller’s Wildcats in the latest round of “Lasting Impressions.”

Lasting Impressions
– St. John’s used their physical and athletic advantages to get to the free throw line thirty times against a weaker UMBC team today. Even better, the Red Storm completed 24 of those foul shots, good enough for an 80 percent clip from the charity stripe in what was, by far, their best free throw effort of the season.

– The press defense wore out UMBC toward the end of the first half, a change of pace from the sluggish starts the Red Storm got off to against William & Mary and Lehigh, in each of the first two games. St. John’s forced 20 turnovers today, including a plus-5 turnover margin in the second half, where they registered seven steals.

– Steve Lavin is working his way back to full strength, if today’s postgame press conference was any indication. The coach looked to be in midseason form with his trademark quotes while taking questions from the media. Some of today’s “Lavin Lines” included references to the season being a marathon, less “fire and brimstone” today than in the Lehigh game, and his being impressed with his team passing the ball, or “sharing the sugar,” as he likes to call it. Lavin also said the Red Storm are “at the point of the season where we’re just pulling out of the station,” and said that “under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden, playing a Top 20 team, there’s going to be some butterflies,” looking ahead to Thursday’s matchup with Arizona.

– Though Nurideen Lindsey came within one assist of recording the first triple-double in St. John’s history since Ron Artest had one in 1999 against Seton Hall, today’s game ball goes to Malik Stith. On a day when many faces of St. John’s past (including former walk-on Kevin Clark) were on hand to get a glimpse of the Red Storm, the last remaining link to the program’s recent past provided a throwback to his early season form from a year ago, recording 11 points for his fifth career double-figure outing, and first since scoring 12 against Louisville last January at the Yum! Center.

St. John’s Holds Off Lehigh as Steve Lavin Returns to Sidelines

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Sir Dom Pointer Layup vs Lehigh

No matter how you slice last night’s game, one thing was clear at Carnesecca Arena.

This one was for Lavin.

On a night when head coach Steve Lavin shocked everyone with his unexpected return following successful prostate cancer surgery last month, his St. John’s (2-0) team overcame a 16-point deficit to narrowly escape Patriot League opponent Lehigh (0-1) by the final of 78-73.

The Red Storm were paced by God’sgift Achiuwa, who scored 21 points on a perfect shooting night (6-of-6 from the field and 9-of-9 at the free throw line) to lead all scorers.

Moe Harkless and Nurideen Lindsey also chipped in with 15 points each, while fellow newcomer D’Angelo Harrison was the unsung hero defensively, with twelve points and four steals.

C.J. McCollum paced the visiting Mountain Hawks with 19 points and 9 rebounds, finishing the night just one board shy of a double-double.

Steve Lavin 2K Classic
Steve Lavin made his 2011-2012 debut after battling prostate cancer in the off season. (Dave Krupinski)
“I’m sure it was an inspiration for them to have him on their sideline leading them,” Lehigh coach Brett Reed said in regard to St. John’s feeding off the emotion behind Lavin’s comeback. “Tonight was a hard-fought game. Give credit to St. John’s.”

The fortitude of the players might have been the reason why the Red Storm emerged victorious, but this night was all about their beloved savior, Steve Lavin, who returned a conquering hero.

“Our fans were great tonight,” said Lavin. “Once you’re able to join forces with your basketball family, it’s a special night.” Lavin then shared a laugh with the media when he jokingly went on to say that it was “good to be back, but when we were down 16, I was thinking I should have taken my wife’s advice and stayed out until Sunday.”

“It was definitely surprising,” said Harkless. “When I saw him, I just jumped up and gave him a big hug.”

Harkless’ reaction was shared with the St. John’s fan base tonight, as their resident superhero is back on the stage where he endeared himself to the masses. Before the Johnnies’ next game Sunday against UMBC, we examine what made Lavin’s return a winning one in tonight’s edition of lasting impressions.

 

Lasting Impressions

– God’sgift Achiuwa established himself early and often as the focal point for the Red Storm offense, particularly in the paint. The Nigerian junior scored a game-high 21 points on a night where he did not miss a single shot either from the field (6-of-6) or the free throw line (9-of-9). He stated proudly in the post game press conference he’s done it before and he took extra time this week to practice his free throws.

– Credit Maurice Harkless and Nurideen Lindsey for serving as the backbone of Achiuwa’s supporting cast. Harkless and Lindsey scored 15 points each, with Harkless contributing all but two of his points in the second half.

– Much like Monday night’s game against William & Mary, it was a tale of two halves for St. John’s. The Red Storm were down 36-20 midway through the opening half, and entered the intermission behind 43-33. Once the second half opened, the press defense that worked to perfection in the season opener was unleashed. Lehigh guard C.J. McCollum, who had made four of his first five shots, missed ten of his last twelve to finish the night 6-for-17 from the field.

– D’Angelo Harrison and Sir’Dominic Pointer were the stars of the show defensively. Harrison contributed four of the Johnnies’ eleven steals, while Pointer used his tremendous athleticism to get up and down the floor and deprive Lehigh of valuable second chance opportunities that, if converted, could have won them the game.

– Finally, tonight’s game ball goes to none other than Steve Lavin. Originally mulling Sunday afternoon’s contest against UMBC as his return to the court, Lavin was helped along in his decision by Mike Dunlap. The associate head coach urged Lavin to make his appearance ahead of schedule. Lavin joked about how he should have stuck to his original game plan when Lehigh opened their 16-point lead in the first half, but, as is always the case with Lavin, he found a silver lining to the early deficit. “It helped our learning curve, and it kind of threw me back into the fire,” said the coach after Lehigh opened last night’s contest with a near-perfect 11-of-14 performance from the field.