DIKU DUNK
DIKU DUNK
Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins exit the game to loud cheers from St. John's fans after they each put up double-doubles.
Johnnies up by 24 with less than five minutes to go. Stick a fork in this one.
#sjubb
St. John's responds to Vaaks's deep three and foul that brought back bad memories to the January 3 game with a 10-0 run.
Johnnies are up by 22 at the 7:55 mark, 75-53.
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Unlike that first meeting, the Johnnies shut down any chance of a big Friars run following Vaaks's deep three with a 6-0 spurt in response.
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Vaaks did it again.
He scored a circus rainbow three from Newark and drew the shooting foul on Joson Sanon to set up a four-point play.
Friars took the game over in this exact same way on January 3.
#sjubb
St. John's is suddenly frozen. Red Storm are shooting 5-of-18 in the second half and are 1-of-10 from deep. Too many missed open triples to count.
#SJUBB
Providence's offense is finally waking up. Two straight dunks by Erhunmwunse and Sellers cuts St. John's' lead to 59-46. Rick Pitino takes another quick timeout.
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[Babyface Ray voice] Live in the flesh, Ron Artest.
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Stefan Vaaks buries Providence's first three of the game with 15:41 remaining in the second half. The Friars had missed their first five long-range buckets.
Johnnies still up by a strong margin at 55-39.
#sjubb
HALF: St. John's 48, Providence 27
It's been all Johnnies for twenty minutes. Friars are still looking for their first triple after making 14 of them yesterday.
Ejiofor with 12 points, five rebounds, and four assists, while Hopkins has 11 points and six rebounds.
#SJUBB
Bryce Hopkins is looking like his old self against his former team.
He's got a team-high 11 points and just stepped into a three to give St. John's their largest lead of the game.
Johnnies up big at the 2:58 mark, 44-23.
#SJUBB
Second time today Bryce Hopkins delivers a hard slam and tumbles to the floor. He might need to learn how to take a fall.
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Zuby Ejiofor's engine never stops.
The big man just neutralized a 3-on-2 Providence fastbreak with a block on Jamier Jones.
#sjubb
Zuby Ejiofor already has 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.
This could be a monster day for him. #sjubb
Providence comes out of the timeout with a quick 6-0 run. Pitino calls a timeout in response.
#SJUBB
Steal and a breakaway dunk for Bryce Hopkins. He doesn't quite stick the landing as he collides with Corey Floyd, Jr. as he lets go of the rim.
It's all Johnnies early, as they hold a 20-5 lead.
#SJUBB
St. John's scores five points on a single trip at their basket.
Joson Sanon drills a second-chance three, while Zuby Ejiofor draws the foul, then Ejiofor sticks a fadeaway mid-range jumper.
#sjubb
Dillon Mitchell commits two quick fouls out of the timeout and is hooked for Joson Sanon.
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Not the best offensive start for St. John's, but Rick Pitino likely won't complain when they're playing defense like this.
Johnnies are up 9-0, and have forced the Friars to miss their first six shots. They're holding a 10-4 advantage on the boards.
#SJUBB
St. John's is already up by a touchdown, making their last three baskets after missing their first six.
Zuby Ejiofor glided down the lane for a fastbreak dunk, forcing Kim English to use his first timeout at the 16:53 mark.
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In total, St. John's recorded five offensive rebounds in between missing six shots on their opening possession.
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Three missed shots, but three offensive boards for St. John's to open the game.
Boos for Bryce from Friars fans. "ZUUUUUBs" for Zuby from Johnnies fans in player introductions. Let's get this one tipped off.
#SJUBB
Almost 20 minutes away from tip-off between St. Johnβs and Providence in the Big East Tournament quarterfinal.
Johnnies looking to play on Friday night of the BET for a third straight year.
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St. John's men's basketball begin their Big East Tournament title defense against Providence on Thursday afternoon (12 p.m., Peacock).
Here is our game thread | #sjubb
Major contract news first reported by Newsday: St. John's offered Rick Pitino a restructured contract that would make him the second-highest paid coach in the Big East.
Nothing's finalized yet, but there is momentum to the deal.
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Kim English says he thinks the fight between St. Johnβs and Providence on February 14 was blown out of proportion.
βIt was a hard foul. Guys got in each othersβ faces, there was some shoving.β
#sjubb
Providence guard Jaylin Sellers on facing St. Johnβs tomorrow: βItβs gonna be a highly competitive game, a very fun, high energy game. Theyβre gonna bring their best and our guys are going to bring ours.β
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Providence coaches are yelling βgot 40 more minutesβ in the tunnel leading out from the court.
Tomorrow is going to be a dandy.
#SJUBB / #PCBB
St. Johnβsβ quarterfinal matchup is set after Providence beats Butler, 91-81.
Itβll be Johnnies vs. Friars at 12 p.m. tomorrow. Get your popcorn ready.
#SJUBB