No. 1 Connecticut pulls away from St. John's in second half
St. John's Red Storm center Joel Soriano looks on against the Connecticut Huskies in the first half of an NCAA Big East men’s basketball game at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
St. John’s was close to sending shock waves through the college basketball world on Dec. 23, but the Red Storm ultimately lost by four in Hartford against then-No. 5 Connecticut.
Exactly six weeks later at a sold-out Madison Square Garden, St. John’s had its chance to do it again on Saturday, but top-ranked UConn proved to be too much. The reigning national champion made a statement with a huge second half in a 77-64 win, handing the Red Storm their fifth loss in their last six games.
“It’s been the same problem all season,” St. John’s coach Rick Pitino said. “[We’re] not a great- shooting team and we’re not a great defensive team. And when a team shoots 49% from the field, almost 47 from three and they outrebound you by 15, you’re not gonna win too many games.
“So they’re better than us. They’ve been better twice.”
Daniss Jenkins scored 19 points to lead St. John’s (13-9, 5-6), but leading scorer Joel Soriano was kept quiet with six points and four rebounds in 33 minutes.
“I think Daniss is playing at a high level. Unfortunately, nobody else is,” Pitino said. “And that’s one of the reasons why we’re not playing great against the great teams.”
Cam Spencer scored 23 points, Stephon Castle had a career-high 21 and Tristen Newton added 18 in a well-balanced Huskies effort. Alex Karaban (ankle) was ruled out for UConn (20-2, 10-1), leaving a void of 14.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 31.2 minutes per game, and 7-2 center Donovan Clingan scored five points and played only 15:48 because of constant foul trouble, but the Huskies thrived regardless.
The Garden felt like a neutral environment Saturday, with plenty of Huskies fans making their voices heard.
The teams exchanged the lead four times in the first seven minutes of the second half, but a three-pointer by Spencer — who was 5-for-7 from outside the arc — put the Huskies ahead for good at 48-46 with 12:55 left. Spencer's basket began an 8-0 run that extended UConn’s lead to 53-46 with 12:04 left, and the Huskies went ahead by as much as 15 with 6:40 to play.
“It’s gonna be some great battles over the course of the next couple years here,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said. “So [we] certainly look forward to it because a great St. John’s team at MSG — it’s great for the Big East, it’s great for college basketball.”
While Saturday’s game was within single digits for 31:35, the second half was an indication that UConn is operating at a different level from St. John’s.
“I don’t think we’re anywhere close to being a rival with them,” Pitino said. “I think as far as the crowd, we’re very appreciative of the fans they brought tonight and sold out Madison Square Garden. It maybe could become a rivalry someday, but it’s not now.”
St. John’s led 37-36 at halftime after 12 lead changes and eight ties. Jenkins led all scorers with 13 points at halftime but shot 1-for-6 in the second half. “I think in order for us to get on the right track and really sustain the team that we knew that we could be, our mindset has to change,” he said.
“The whole has to be better with this team — every first-year team — than the sum of its parts, and right now, we’re not,” Pitino said. “That’s where we got to get better.”
Ben Dickson joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
