It started with a full line change from Rick Pitino after just three minutes, but it ended in a triumphant rout for the St. John’s basketball team.
With a trip to Las Vegas and three monster games lurking, the No. 14 Red Storm looked like they had their bags packed as the ball was tipped against Bucknell on Thursday night, starting the game 2-of-13 from the field.
But after Pitino went to his bench, the Johnnies got rolling and never looked back.
Trailing 10-6 seven minutes into the game, St. John’s would outscore Bucknell 35-15 for the remainder of the half and poured it on after halftime, winning 97-49.
“It was a carryover from practice,” the St. John’s head coach said as the second unit has been beating the first unit in practice.
“They were rushing on offense,” he continued about his starters. “There was nothing from an effort standpoint that they were not doing.”
As the Johnnies (3-1) got going, Bryce Hopkins led the charge with 20 points in just 17 minutes. It was his first 20-point game since December 13, 2023 as a member of the Providence Friars.
Hopkins made 7-of-9 shots, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range after going 1-of-8 from downtown in the prior three games.
Ian Jackson also poured in a season-high 20 points with four rebounds, three assists, and no turnovers off the bench.
“I was just doing what I need to do to impact the game on both ends of the floor,” Jackson explained.
“I was just out there flowing. Just doing what I needed to do to win.”
The Red Storm shot 64.5-percent in the second half while holding Bucknell to 4-of-22 from the field.
St. John’s will go to Las Vegas for the Players Era Festival with high expectations, beginning its three-game stretch against No. 16 Iowa State on Monday afternoon (4:30 p.m. ET, truTV).