St. Johns overwhelms Marquette in second half to roll into Big East championship game
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Marquette had St.John’s down.
Had the Johnnies down 15 points, in a big hole early Friday night.Some teams may have wilted.Certainly St.
John’s teams of the past may have buckled.Not this group.Not on Friday night of the Big East Tournament.No way.The top seed had been there plenty of times before, facing major deficits.
During the regular season, it won four times when trailing by 14 points or more.Add another comeback to the growing collection.St.
John’s dusted itself off and caught fifth-seeded Marquette by halftime.Then, it lapped the Golden Eagles, crushing them down the stretch like it has so many other foes during this joyride of a season.Now, it is onto Saturday night at the Garden, in the conference championship game for the first time since 2000 after this impressive 79-63 victoryThe second half was one-sided, St.
John’s suffocating Marquette on the defensive end and dominating them inside on the other.Six days after beating the Golden Eagles at the overtime buzzer, Zuby Ejiofor scored a St.
John’s Big East Tournament record 31 points along with nine rebounds and three assists.Kadary Richmond tossed in a typical well-rounded effort, 12 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, and Aaron Scott added 11.
RJ Luis finished with 13 points and six rebounds on an off shooting night.When Ejiofor was excited with 5.6 seconds left, the crowd roared with “Zuuuuuu,” chants.He owned Marquette again and St.
John’s stifled them over the final 20 minutes, 44-26.Kam Jones led Marquette with 24 points, but needed 22 shots, and had only nine after the break.Marquette didn’t handle the St.
John’s pressure well, committing 17 turnovers, eight over its season average.As impressive as Thursday’s start was, Friday night’s beginning went in the other direction.St.
John’s came out sleepwalking.Just 7:18 in, M...