With Legends in Attendance, Johnnies Win Again

Earlier this week, Gothamist thought that St. John's win over Louisville was the win of the season for the team. Well, we were mistaken because yesterday they defeated Pittsburgh, 55-50, at Madison Square Garden. The 9th ranked Panthers entered the game as one of three undefeated teams left in the nation, but like the Duke Blue Devils and the Florida Gators, they ended the day with their first loss. The win was reminiscent of better days at St. John's, when the team was once a dominant force in the Big East. Fittingly, the school honored 10 people - Mark Jackson, Chris Mullin, Walter Berry, Lou Carnesecca, Dick McGuire, Alan Seiden, Malik Sealy, Sonny Dove, Tony Jackson and Joe Lapchikas - as Basketball Legacy Honorees. In attendance was Jackson, Mullin, Berry, Coach Carnesecca, and McGuire. The win was the Red Storm's third straight and improves their record to 10-6, 3-2 in the Big East. The 10 wins matches the team total from last season.

The Johnnies jumped out to a 14-0 lead to start the game and held Pitt to only 19 points by halftime. The Panthers fought back in the second half and momentarily took the lead, 48-47, with 2:39 left to play, but Lamont Hamilton, a junior from Brooklyn, came up big with two crucial plays. Hamilton finished with 24 points and 8 rebounds. Carl Krauser, a native of The Bronx, had a chance to tie the game in the closing seconds for Pitt but missed his 3-point attempt.

Photo by AP/Frank Franklin II via Red Storm Sports