PERFECT STORM
Johnnies hold off Princeton to hit 9-0
Shamorie Ponds scored 18 of his 26 points in the second half and combined with Justin Simon for nine points in a game-ending run as undefeated St. John’s fended off Princeton, 89-74, on Sunday at the Madison Square Garden Holiday Festival.
Princeton trailed by 19, 7566, with eight minutes left after Ponds scored 10 points in a 26-8 run. But the Tigers responded by outscoring the Red Storm 18-5, capped by a 3-pointer by Jose Morales, and closed within six with 3:41 remaining but didn’t score again, missing their final six shots.
LJ Figueroa added 17 points and Marvin Clark II had 13 with both grabbing a game-high eight rebounds for the Red Storm (9-0), which shot 56% in getting off to its best start since the 1990-91 team also began 9-0.
Devin Cannady made six 3-pointers and scored 18 points and Jaelin Llewellyn, in his collegiate debut, added 17 for Princeton (4-4), making its first Garden appearance since 2000 and playing St. John’s for the first time since 1982.
St. John’s led 41-38 at halftime on Figueroa’s 3-point play in the final minute.
Before the game, St. John’s honored late Hall of Fame basketball writer Jim O’Connell of The Associated Press with a special presentation to his family. The players wore a red patch with O’Connell’s nickname, “Oc.” O’Connell, an alumnus, was a fixture covering sports at the Garden. He died in July at 64. The Garden will also place a permanent plaque at his workspace in the media room.
TENNESSEE 78, GONZAGA 73
Admiral Schofield hit a 3pointer with 24 seconds left and scored 25 of his 30 points in the second half, helping No. 7 Tennessee knock off topranked Gonzagain the Colangelo Classic on Sunday.
Tennessee (7-1) jumped on Gonzaga early and fought back from a nine-point, second-half deficit.
Reigning SEC player of the year Grant Williams fouled out with 2:30 left, but the Vols went up two when Schofield banked in a 3-pointer with 80 seconds left.
After Rui Hachimura tied it with two free throws, Schofield hit a long 3 and Tennessee held on for its first victory over a No. 1 team since it beat Kansas in 2010.
Gonzaga (9-1) had two shots at a tying 3-pointer, but Zach Norvell Jr. and Hachimura missed.
VIRGINIA 57, VCU 49
Kyle Guy scored 13 of his 15 points in the first half, and Ty Jerome had 11 of his 14 in the second for host No. 4 Virginia.