It was another sluggish start for the St. John’s basketball team and it’s becoming a trend, specifically in ‘buy games’.
The Johnnies didn’t have much energy during the first half of its matchup against Bryant, and it could have been easy to see why after the Red Storm were fresh off its huge second half comeback in an emotional victory over Kansas State and Big East play begins with its next game.
Still, a Bryant team hung around too long before St. John’s got rolling and won, 99-77.
Rick Pitino, however, isn’t concerned about its slow starts.
“Basketball is a game of runs. It’s not a game of first half, second half…as long as you have the run to win the game like we did, that’s the good thing.”
Only leading by three, 58-55, with 12:40 remaining, the Red Storm (8-2) got a bucket from RJ Luis that started its second half run after the Bulldogs were called for a flagrant foul on a box out against Zuby Ejiofor.
Ejiofor split the free throws and then converted a layup to cap off the 5-point possession. The sequence sparked a 17-1 run that put the game out of reach and allowed St. John’s to cruise to the finish line.
The Red Storm duo combined for nine points in the run that turned into another dominant night for Ejiofor, who finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds after his 28-point, 13-rebound effort against Kansas State.
“This is the best team that I’ve seen talent wise to come in , maybe with the exception of Kansas State,” Pitino said of Bryant.
Prior to the St. John’s run, Bryant was outrebounding the Storm and had more points in the paint and second chance points. It’s something that won’t lend itself to winning during league play.
Former Red Storm guard Rafael Pinzon started hot for the Bulldogs, scoring nine points in the first half but did not score in the second half as he battled a groin injury that forced him to miss the final 10:25 of the game.
St. John’s will begin its conference slate of games on Tuesday night (6:30 p.m. ET, Peacock) against DePaul (7-2, 0-1 Big East) inside Carnesecca Arena.