By Joseph Staszewski
St. John’s seniors took what they hope is their final bow at Carnesecca Area as winners.
D’ Angelo Harrison, Sir’Dominic Pointer, Phil Greene IV and Jamal Branch bid farewell to the venue in fitting fashion, with a red-shooting display and superb execution down the stretch. It was more then enough to earn an important 85-72 win over visiting Seton Hall in front of an energetic sell-out crowd that included Hall of Fame forward Chris Mullin and legendary coach Lou Carnesecca Saturday afternoon.
It was likely the group’s final home game on campus if they make the NCAA Tournament. The NIT plays its open round games at host team’s home gyms. St. John’s has two contests remaining at Madison Square Garden.
“It was great,” Harrison said. “This is a bunch of guys I’ve know for four years now. I love these guys and we strived to get a win.”
St. John’s coach Steve Lavin made sure to get his four key seniors on the court along with classmate Khadim Ndiaye in the final minutes in a key game. There was a big celebratory huddle and Pointer and Harrison both waved to the cheering crowd in appreciation as the Johnnies continueD to make a push for the NCAA tournament. St. John’s has won four of its last five games.
“I thought it was appropriate they did it as a group,” Lavin said. “They came in as a group. I love this group and what they’ve done to kind of restore or give us some traction at St. John’s, where we have become relevant.”
The end to the storybook afternoon WAS still in doubt with the score tied at 59-59 with 9:43 left in the game after a 3-pointer from Seton Hall freshman Isaiah Whitehead. Branch responded by knocking down a jumper and then connected on a three to ignite a 13-2 run that put the Red Storm (18-9, 7-7) up 72-61 with 5:25 remaining in the contest.
Rysheed Jordan and Pointer both hit treys in 3:00 to put the game away. Branch got it started after being told by his teammates at halftime to look for his shot more.
“I had the confidence,” Branch said. “They were counting on me to make shots and that’s what I did. Everybody else started making shots too,”
Pointer led the way with 22 points and 10 rebounds and Greene netted 20 points. Harrison added 18 points and six boards and Jordan had 12 points and six rebounds. The Red Storm shot 48 percent from the field and made 11 of 26 three-pointers. At one point Seton Hall (15-12, 5-10), which was playing without the suspended Sterling Gibbs, had four freshmen and a senior on the floor. Experience was certainly a factor down the stretch.
“That’s critical,” Lavin said. “Seniors in college basketball have great value.”
Whitehead and fellow freshmen Khadeen Carrington paced Seton Hall with 19 and 16 points apiece. The former Abraham Lincoln star Whitehead, who shot 8 of 24 from the field, was playing his first game against SJU since spurning the Red Storm for the Pirates during his high school recruitment.
The St. John’s fans booed every time he touched the ball. Whitehead scored 15 of his points in the second half. Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard didn’t feel the booing effect ON Whitehead and thought he bounced back after halftime.
“Although he got off to a tough start, he did a good job of staying with it,” Willard said. “He battled. I saw some good things in the second half. I thought he did a good job in the second half staying aggressive.”
St. John’s moved into fifth place in the Big East conference with the win and face sixth-place Xavier 7 p.m. Monday at Madison Square Garden. There is still work to be done, but the Red Storm seniors took the time to enjoy the moment in what they hope is their final game on campus. They finished 31-4 overall in Queens.
“We appreciate all the support that we got for four years,” Greene said. “We were happy to get a win in our last game. It felt great to me.”
