St. John’s eventually found a way to grind out a 77-70 victory over Division III St. Mary’s in their second and final exhibition game.
But regardless of the final outcome, it’s just another learning experience for a team with six newcomers all playing as part of a seven-man rotation before the regular-season schedule begins next week.
“We’re just trying to get better each and every day and each and every game,” assistant coach Rico Hines said, with head coach Steve Lavin continuing to recover from prostate cancer surgery on Oct. 6.
“These guys are really young … I told them [in the locker room], every time it’s going to be a new time out for them.
“So enjoy the process, enjoy getting better each and every day. That’s all we can do.”
The Red Storm have plenty to get better at between today and Monday’s season opener.
St. John’s went 22-for-42 from the foul line for the game — and that included going 13-for-16 from the foul line during the final few minutes of the game to help seal the triumph .
St. John’s also shot a dismal 1-for-12 from 3-point range, including a 1-for-7 showing from freshman guard D’Angelo Harrison.
“Coach told me to keep shooting the ball,” said Harrison, who finished with 12 points on 4-for-14 shooting from the field to go along with five rebounds.
“Obviously I need more work, so I’m going to be in the gym 24/7 this week, trying to get ready for Monday.”
One player who looked to be in midseason form was freshman Moe Harkless. The 6-foot-8 forward from Queens recorded his second straight exhibition game double-double, leading St. John’s with 20 points, 12 rebounds and two steals, including going 10-for-12 from the foul line.
“Coach Lavin and I probably watched [Harkless] more than any other player on the circuit last summer, and one thing we did notice about him was he did rebound,” Hines said.
“He rebounded in traffic. I think people don’t realize how good of a rebounder he is.”
With a pair of exhibition wins behind them, the first true test for the new-look Red Storm comes Monday, when they host William & Mary at Carnesecca Arena as part of the 2K Sports Classic.
Last night’s result aside, they think they’re ready for it.
“Honestly, I think we’re ahead of where I thought [we’d be],” Harkless said. “We became a team a lot quicker than people would think, and I think that’s the only way we’ll be successful.”
“They’ve been great,” Hines said. “They really have. We demand a lot from them. We ask a lot of those guys, and they’ve really responded to it.”