St. John’s uses dominant second half to roll past Central Connecticut State

It once more took St. John’s a half to wiggle free from an inferior opponent, however when the Pink Storm did, the outcomes have been decisive.

Freshman A.J. Storr scored 16 factors off the bench and St. John’s rode a dominant second half to a cushty 91-74 victory over Central Connecticut State at Carnesecca Enviornment on Tuesday night time.

The Pink Storm (3-0) change to a zone protection and outscored the Blue Devils 58-31 after the break. Of their earlier recreation, towards Lafayette, they turned a two-point halftime lead into an 83-68 win.

“Coach [Mike Anderson] stated to get stops on protection,” guard Posh Alexander stated of the halftime message. “We belief our coach and we went to zone and it labored out.”

Storr shot 6-for-10 from the sector, together with 4-for-5 from 3-point vary. David Jones scored 11 of his 15 factors within the second half and had 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Alexander had 12 factors, six assists and 5 rebounds. Montez Mathis added 13 factors for the Pink Storm, who pressured 12 turnovers and dominated on the offensive glass. They used an 11-0 run, capped by a Jones jumper to seize a 58-45 benefit with 12:08 left within the recreation and by no means appeared again.

Dylan Addae-Wusu (l.) and Posh Alexander have a good time throughout St. John’s win over Central Connecticut State on Tuesday.

Charles Wenzelberg/New York Submit

“Within the final recreation [versus Lafayette] you may see a glimpse,” Anderson stated of Storr, “Tonight, he acquired the minutes, and he was productive with these minutes. I believe it was about confidence, being extra aggressive and assertive, not simply on offense, however on protection as properly.”

Nigel Scantlebury led Central Connecticut State (0-3) with 16 factors and Kellan Amos added 14 factors.

A.J. Storr shoots a bounce scorching for St. John’s throughout it’s win over Central Connecticut State on Tuesday.

Charles Wenzelberg/New York Submit

The Pink Storm did a significantly better job defending the 3-point line, holding the Blue Devils to 10-for-27 taking pictures from behind the arc after permitting Lafayette to make 14 3-pointers of their earlier contest.

“Within the second half, I believed we did job of fixing the rhythm of the sport,” Anderson stated. “That’s why we’re at all times going to be a group that performs with a number of defenses. When [the zone] works, it retains individuals in place and makes them shoot bounce photographs.”

St. John’s returns to motion versus Nebraska on Thursday at Carnesecca Enviornment for the Gavitt Video games.