NEW YORK (AP) Zuby Ejiofor posted career highs scoring 28 points and grabbing 13 rebounds and St. John’s used an offensive eruption after halftime to beat Kansas State 88-71 in a Big 12-Big East Battle contest on Saturday.
Ejiofor finished 11-for-17 shooting, Kadary Richmond scored 13 points and RJ Luis Jr. and reserve Simeon Wilcher each scored 11 for St. John’s (7-2). The Red Storm had a 51-40 rebound advantage and a 17-10 edge in assists.
Brendan Hausen scored 21 of his 27 points before halftime, David N’Guessan scored 15 points and Coleman Hawkins 11 and grabbed nine rebounds for the Wildcats (6-3).
In a game of runs, St. John’s ran away with it after halftime, starting with an 18-5 run over the first 4 1/2 minutes to go up 53-44 with consecutive 3-pointers from Luis and Aaron Scott. Ruben Prey’s 3 gave the Red Storm a 62-50 lead at 11:01 to play and they led by double digits for the remainder. St. John’s scored 53 points after intermission.
The first half featured runs by both teams.
St. John’s used a 12-1 run turning a 16-7 deficit to a 19-17 lead; it’s first lead of the game. The Wildcats countered with a 14-2 outburst in which Hausen sank three 3s and Max Jones added another for a 31-21 lead. St. John’s rallied with an 8-0 spurt that took just a little more than minute to get within 31-28 with 3:42 left before halftime. The Wildcats led 39-35 at halftime.
It was the first time the two teams faced each other since Dec. 10, 1965, when then first-year head coach Lou Carnesseca led St. John’s to a 72-65 win. Carnesecca died at age 99 on Nov. 30.
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TOP SCORERS | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
11
|
B. Hausen G | 27PTS | 4REB | 1AST | |
24
|
Z. Ejiofor F | 28PTS | 13REB | 2AST |
STARTERS | PTS | REB | AST | PF |
B. Hausen | 27 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
D. N’Guessan | 15 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
C. Hawkins | 11 | 9 | 3 | 2 |
M. Jones | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
C. Jones | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
BENCH | PTS | REB | AST | PF |
D. McDaniel | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
U. Onyenso | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
A. Achor | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
D. Castillo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
T. Manning | – | – | – | – |
M. Rich | – | – | – | – |
B. Fall | – | – | – | – |
M. Ikegwuruka | – | – | – | – |
S. Bain | – | – | – | – |
Total | 71 | 35 | 10 | 16 |
STARTERS | PTS | REB | AST | PF |
Z. Ejiofor | 28 | 13 | 2 | 2 |
K. Richmond | 13 | 6 | 4 | 1 |
R. Luis Jr. | 11 | 8 | 4 | 3 |
A. Scott | 8 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
B. Dunlap | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
BENCH | PTS | REB | AST | PF |
S. Wilcher | 11 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
D. Smith | 5 | 9 | 3 | 0 |
R. Prey | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
J. Glover | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
V. Iwuchukwu | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
S. Ibine Ayo | – | – | – | – |
K. Maker | – | – | – | – |
L. Liotopoulos | – | – | – | – |
Total | 88 | 47 | 17 | 17 |