After slow start, Providence roars past St. John’s 77-71
Stefan Vaaks hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:57 remaining as Providence made all the plays down the stretch to earn a 77-71 victory over St. John's on Saturday afternoon in New York.
Providence (8-6, 1-2 Big East) gave up the game's first 13 points and trailed by 10 twice in the second half. The Friars also survived a monster day from the Red Storm's Zuby Ejiofor, who led all scorers with 33 points and had 15 rebounds.
After facing a 62-52 deficit, Providence outscored St John's (9-5, 2-1) 25-9 over the final 7:52.
Vaaks hit three 3-pointers over the final 7:12 as part of a 16-point showing after missing 25 of 30 shots from 3-point range in his previous three games.
After Providence's Jaylin Sellers missed a 3-point attempt with 2:02 left, Jamier Jones secured the rebound and kicked it to Vaaks along the right wing. Vaaks released his shot before Bryce Hopkins could defend and it gave the Friars a 72-70 lead.
St. John's still had chances after Vaaks' clutch shot. Following a free throw by Jones, Josan Sanon missed a 3-point attempt with 1:09 left and Ejiofor split two free throws five seconds later and was off target on a 3-point attempt with 19 seconds left.
Sellers and Jones added 15 apiece while Jason Edwards finished with 11 as Providence shot 39.1% overall.
Ejiofor was the lone double-figure scorer for the Red Storm but struggled in other areas. He made 14-of-23 free throws and committed seven turnovers.
Sanon, Ian Jackson and Hopkins were a combined 5 of 33 from the field for St. John's and 2 of 16 from 3-point range.
St. John's shot 28.2%, missed 24 of 31 3-point attempts and went 24 of 37 from the free-throw line.
After the early deficit, the Friars took a 28-26 lead on a 3-pointer by Sellers with 3:46 left. St. John's ended with a 12-3 run and took a 38-31 lead on a step-back jumper by Oziyah Sellers with 22 second left.
Lefteris Liotopoulos hit a 3-pointer with 14:15 remaining to put St. John's up 51-41 and Hopkins finished off a three-point play for a 62-52 margin with 7:52 left. Providence answered again, getting within 68-67 on a four-point play by Vaaks with 2:55 left.