The hottest team in the Big East and one of the hottest in college basketball plays in your backyard.
St. John’s, forced to play overtime without leading scorer D’Angelo Harrison (fouled out) and reeling from a referee’s decision that JaKarr Sampson was not fouled just before the buzzer, surged into sole possession of third place in the Big East Wednesday night, holding off DePaul 79-74 in overtime in a nearly sold out, frenzied Carnesecca Arena.
It was St. John’s fifth straight win — not even No. 1-ranked Michigan can claim it’s on a five-game win streak.
Sir’Dominic Pointer, who has emerged as the key catalyst for the Red Storm, made the defining play with 1:04 in overtime after Sampson’s offensive rebound had given the Johnnies a 75-74 lead. Pointer drove to the basket and went up with a vengeance. DePaul’s Brandon Young was called for the intentional foul.
“When I take off like that, you got to meet me at the rim,’’ said Pointer, who turned in another relentless performance with 11 points, a game-high 12 rebounds and two blocked shots.
When Pointer was asked if he thought he was baddest, toughest player on the court in a game like this, his answer showed how much bravado he plays with.
‘I think that every game,’’ he said.
Pointer drained both free throws for a 77-74 lead and St. John’s got the ball. They committed a shot clock violation but that left DePaul with 29.2 seconds and no time outs remaining. Jamee Crockett air balled a 3 from the left corner and Sampson was fouled with 14.7 left. Sampson converted 1-of-2 free throws to ice the game.
St. John’s (14-7, 6-3 in the Big East) swept the series with DePaul, which got 21 from Young. Only Syracuse and Marquette, both at 6-1, are above the Johnnies in the league standings. But now comes the tough part with a four-game stretch against Georgetown, UConn, Syracuse and Louisville.
“This is why I came to St. John’s,’’ said Sampson, who finished with 13 points and eight rebounds. “To play meaningful games.’’
Last night’s game was memorable and meaningful. The Johnnies blew a 40-31 lead early in the second half, and DePaul (11-11, 1-6) was looking to avenge a 71-62 home loss to St. John’s on Jan. 19 in which the Johnnies nearly blew a 17-point lead.
Despite being outhustled most of the night, the Johnnies thought they had a chance to win it in regulation, which ended tied 69-69. Pointer secured a loose ball and muscled a pass to Sampson who was in the lane.
Sampson went up strong. The referee’s whistle blew. The horn sounded. The officials checked the replay. OT.
For the first time during this stretch St. John’s was not the more aggressive team. That was obvious when coach Steve Lavin was forced to call a timeout just 35 seconds into the game after watching DePaul grab six offensive rebounds.
“He just knew if we didn’t change that right then and there, it was going to be a long game for us,’’ Sampson said.
St. John’s-Syracuse to extend rivalry
One of the rivalries that put the Big East on the map will continue even though St. John’s and Syracuse are parting ways.
The two schools announced a two-year, home-and-home series with next season’s game to be played in the Garden on Sunday, Dec. 15. The return game will be played the following season in the Carrier Dome at a date to be determined.