Shaheen Holloway on facing the Red Storm tomorrow: "Playing Friday night, Big East Tournament, against St. John's in the Garden, that's what you play basketball for."
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It will be a local matchup in the Big East Tournament semifinals between St. John’s and Seton Hall tomorrow at 5:30.
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St. John's men's basketball dropped the hammer on Providence, advancing to Friday night of the Big East Tournament for a third straight year.
Read our game recap of the Red Storm's 85-72 win below | #sjubb
Asked Bryce Hopkins about St. John's making sure Providence didn't come back: "We know they're a team of runs, we knew they came back against Butler. They did the same against us in the first two games. Our main focus was staying locked in and playing through a lead."
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Rick Pitino believes Bryce Hopkins is getting better as the season goes on, particularly his quickness and vertical, then jokes: "When you're 35 years old like Bryce and getting better, that's great."
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Bryce Hopkins said he didn't want to make it about myself, and wanted to play through his teammates and get the win.
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FINAL: St. John’s 85, Providence 72
Ejiofor and Hopkins post double-doubles in a wire-to-wire victory by the Johnnies.
Red Storm will play the winner of Creighton/Seton Hall tomorrow at 5:30.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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