By Dylan Butler
TUCSON, ARIZ.- The St. John's men's basketball team survived all kinds of adversity this season. From NCAA investigations, to team conflict during the Big East tournament, to the lack of a bench, the Red Storm has seen it all and has prevailed.
But on Saturday night at the McKale Center, St. John's met a force it could not stop; Matt Santangelo. The Gonzaga senior point guard lit up the Red Storm for 26 points, including 14 of his team's final 23 points as the 10th-seeded Bulldogs upset No. 2 St. John's 82-76 in front of 13,818 in the second round of the West Regional.
“Matt really did a masterful job,” said Gonzaga first-year head coach Mark Few. “He had his thumb on the tempo of the game. We love to explore inside, which opens up opportunities outside.”
Gonzaga (26-8) advances to the Sweet 16 in Albuquerque, N.M. to face No. 6 Purdue (23-9), 66-62 winners over third-seeded Oklahoma while the Red Storm's storybook season comes to an end at 25-8.
“What you saw tonight was two very good basketball teams and only one could win and only one could move on,” said St. John's coach Mike Jarvis. “We've had an unbelievable journey and an unbelievable year and the things we've accomplished
