A MUST' WIN
Heron helps Johnnies outlast Butler in OT
Mustapha Heron knows what he’d be missing.
Coming off a damaging home loss to Providence — without the Auburn transfer who led the Tigers to last year’s NCAA Tournament — St. John’s received a season-saving performance from Heron, who returned from a knee injury to score a seasonhigh 28 points, and lead the Red Storm to a desperately needed 77-73 overtime win over Butler on Tuesday night at Carnesecca Arena.
Heron hit each of his six free-throw attempts in overtime, including a game-sealing pair with 1.9 seconds remaining after Butler’s Paul Jorgensen missed a game-tying shot on the other end.
“He had a great game. We don’t win the game without him,” coach Chris Mullin said. “We missed him, of course. He’s a great player, and one of our best players. I thought his efficiency was key, and I thought he made good decisions.”
In avenging last month’s loss to its fellow Big East bubble team, St. John’s (18-7, 6-6) jumped into sole possession of third place in the crowded league, improving to 7-2 in games decided by five points or less this season, entering Sunday’s game against No. 13 Villanova.
“I think the experience factor is legit, having been through wins and losses, understanding the difference,” Mullin said. “I can tell them all I want and what I see and what I think, but until they do it in crunch time, that’s when they do it to themselves. That’s the most important part.
“I know for sure they’re resilient. They care about each other. They care about winning. And they’re learning how to be more consistent.”
After losing its first two Big East games at Madison Square Garden this season, St. John’s looked at home back in Queens, where the team improved to 11-1 this season. Behind Heron, and Marvin Clark II (18 points), the Red Storm led by as much as 13 in the first half, and went to the break up 38-30, hitting 7-of-16 3pointers, and committing just three turnovers.
With Butler leading-scorer Kamar Baldwin, and the Bulldogs (14-11, 5-7), struggling from outside, St. John’s took an 11-point lead with 13:34 to play. Less than two minutes later, Carnesecca was uncomfortably quiet, having watched Butler tie the game with an 11-0 run.
With Heron willing himself into the paint, and to the line, St. John’s remained in front, until Jorgensen’s floater with 16.5 seconds left in regulation gave Butler its first lead of the game.
“I was never worried when we were down,” Clark said.
Shamorie Ponds’ repeated heroics has made such confidence come easy. This time, the star guard couldn’t come through, missing the second of two free throws with 4.1 seconds left in regulation. Baldwin’s missed 3pointer at the buzzer sent the game to overtime, tied at 66.
Though Butler scored the first points of overtime, Ponds (12 points, 4-of-12 shooting) made up for a quiet night with a tie-breaking three-point play with 2:41 left, and the Red Storm wouldn’t trail again.
When Heron’s final shot fell, the player who helped break Auburn’s 15year tournament drought had brought his new school closer to its first dance in four years.
“[We] know we gotta win games down the stretch,” said Heron. “[Clark and I have] been to the [NCAA] Tournament. We know that this is a crucial time of the season right here.”