By Anthony Bosco
“This is a long time coming for us,” were the first words St. John’s University interim men’s basketball coach Kevin Clark uttered when addressing the media following the Red Storm’s exhilarating 71-55 win over the UCLA Bruins Saturday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.
He wasn’t kidding.
It had been four long weeks, 28 days since St. John’s had last tasted victory, a 72-65 win over the Niagara Purple Eagles. A streak of seven games, just one shy of the school record of eight straight losses, set more than 80 years ago, was finally snapped and the SJU players were positively elated about it.
“It was great,” said senior forward Kyle Cuffe. “I can’t speak for the team, but for myself, I’m tired of always saying we’re always falling short. I’m just glad to get it.”
St. John’s (5-13, 0-7) could not have caught UCLA at a better time. Having played competitively in its seven losses, all Big East Conference games, the Johnnies seemed poised to finally put a complete effort together. And with the Bruins reeling from four straight losses, all SJU had to do was capitalize.
Despite being dramatically outsized down low and in the backcourt, SJU went toe-to-toe with the Bruins and came out the clear winner, playing the physical brand of basketball for which the Big East has become famous.
“Games are games, but we did think we could be much more physical than they were,” Clark said. “That was one of our strategies — to really challenge them physically.”
The shorter Johnnies outrebounded the Bruins 49-30, including 16 to six on the offensive end, creating second and third chance opportunities. But just as impressive was the Red Storm’s ability to withstand ever UCLA run and answer right back.
A three by Dijon Thompson started the scoring, but the Bruins would not hold the lead for long. Daryll Hill answered with a three of his own and an Elijah Ingram trey moments later gave the Johnnies a lead they would never relinquish.
“I think this was a day where they did a good job as a team, they stayed together,” Clark said. “I think you saw some growth. Maybe everything did click somewhat, but I think we did a great job as a team.”
Ingram was the story in the first half. The former high school all-American out of St. Anthony’s (N.J.) was positively volcanic, leading all scorers with 18 points at the midway mark, including five from downtown. Ingram went on to finish with 21 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals.
“I felt good,” Ingram said. “I hit a couple in a row and just built off the momentum and just took the shots that were there.”
With SJU leading 22-18, steadily improving freshman Tyler Jones sank his first three-pointer of the year, followed by Andre Stanley’s first trey. Ingram sank another three to cap a quick 9-2 spurt and force UCLA coach Bob Howland to call timeout with the Red Storm in front 31-20 with 6:59 remaining in the first half.
“Even in our zone they were still able to beat us off penetration and create, draw and kick,” Howland said of the SJU guards. “You’ve got to give St. John’s credit, even with the season they’ve had. They came in here with some fire today. They took it right to us and beat us soundly on national television.”
UCLA tried to battle back, but SJU had the answer every time, and by the half St. John’s had built a seemingly comfortable 41-24 advantage.
It was more of the same in the second half. A layup by Grady Reynolds pushed the lead to 19 before the Bruins, led by Trevor Ariza, T.J. Cummings and Brian Morrison, cut the deficit to 11, forcing an SJU timeout with 13:38 to go. But baskets by Cuffe and Ingram and another three by Stanley made it an 18-point SJU advantage.
With UCLA keying on Ingram, freshman Lamont Hamilton scored all eight of his points during a four-minute second half stretch to help keep the Bruins at bay.
With 17 seconds remaining, Clark was able to clear the SJU bench for the first time this season and junior walk-on Joe McDonald out of Farmingdale by way of Nassau Community College took a pass from Jones and drained a three in the final seconds to cap the scoring.
“I’m very, very excited for our team, especially our older guys,” Clark said. “It’s a terrific team win. Everybody who got in the game today, right down to our walk-ons, made a great contribution.
“It’s nice that they can smile,” the coach added. “I’m sure they’ll have more friends today.”
Other than Ingram, Cuffe was the only Red Storm player to finish in double figures, scoring 13 while pulling down a career-high 15 rebounds. Hill added nine points, with Stanley chipping in eight and nine boards off the bench.
Ariza led UCLA with 19 points, six rebounds and two steals.
Following a road game against the nationally ranked Pittsburgh Panthers Wednesday night, the Red Storm will be back at the Garden Sunday to take on the Boston College Eagles. Tip-off is scheduled for noon.
West Virginia 73, St. John’s 64. Ingram had 19 points — including five three pointers — and Hill added 15, but the team’s 21 turnovers were too much to overcome against the West Virginia Mountaineers Jan. 28. WVU’s Tyrone Sally led all scorers with 24.
Reach Sports Editor Anthony Bosco by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 130.
