DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
St. John's
St. John's Outlasts DePaul
2/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
QUEENS, N.Y. - DePaul made runs throughout the night, but the St. John's was able to hold off the Blue Demons each time and claimed an 86-78 win on Wednesday night. Tommy Hamilton IV and Billy Garrett Jr. scored 18 points each to the lead the Blue Demons.
A three by Garrett gave DePaul an early 5-1 lead before St. John's scored nine straight with a three-pointer by D'Angelo Harrison making the score 10-5 less than four minutes into the game. Hamilton scored on back-to-back possessions and Jamee Crockett scored on a layup to give the Blue Demons a 16-12 advantage.
St. John's (16-8, 5-6 BIG EAST) answered with eight straight points in just over a minute of play and turn the four-point deficit into a 20-16 lead midway through the second half. The Red Storm continued its run and built a nine-point advantage.
This time it was DePaul that answered and a jumper by Rashaun Stimage cut the deficit to 32-29 and St. John's would hold a three-point lead at halftime.
An entertaining second half saw St. John's outscore DePaul, 50-45, as the Red Storm held off numerous runs by the Blue Demons. DePaul (12-14, 6-7 BIG EAST) trailed by 13 with 14 minutes left and tied the game at 62-62 on a jumper by Garrett with eight minutes on the clock.
After St. John's reclaimed the lead, Crockett nailed a three-pointer to bring the Blue Demons back to within two points at 69-67. Harrison made two free throws on St. John's next possession and the Red Storm sealed the game with a nine-point run that ended with the Red Storm leading, 78-67, with 3:35 left in the second half.
Crockett scored 17 points with three three-pointers while Myke Henry added 13 points and seven rebounds. Hamilton added nine rebounds to his 18 points that included a pair of three's while Garrett went 8-for-10 from the free throw line.
Harrison led all scorers with 33 points and 10 rebounds for St. John's.
DePaul is off for a week before hosting Providence on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at Allstate Arena. The Blue Demons and Friars are scheduled for an 8 p.m. start in Rosemont.
Postgame Notes: DePaul extended its streak to 670 straight games with a three-pointer... Jamee Crockett moved into 14th place on DePaul's all-time three-point field goal list... St. John's leads the all-time series, 19-16... the two sides split the regular-season series.
