St. John’s falls to 0-5 in Big East with double-OT loss to Providence

Urgency is overrated.

Off to their worst start in the Big East Conference in 10 seasons, St. John’s suffered its most heart-wrenching — and potentially dream-crushing — loss of this season, blowing a three-point lead in the final 30 seconds in a must-win game at Carnesecca Arena before losing, 84-83, to Providence in double overtime on Thursday night.

The team many envisioned St. John’s may forever be relegated to imaginations after the Red Storm (9-8, 0-5) lost their fifth straight game to open Big East play. They also lost in Queens for the first time this season (6-1). The Red Storm next play on Saturday against Darmouth at Carnesecca.

“I thought our kids competed, played their fannies off, showed a lot of heart and just came up short,” St. John’s coach Steve Lavin said.

The game was ripped away when little-used Max Hooper had the ball torn from his hands late in the second overtime.

With St. John’s leading 83-82 and going against the Providence press late with the Friars needing to foul, Hooper received a pass under his own basket, but was immediately tied up and outmuscled by Bryce Cotton. The result was a jump ball and a Providence possession with 21.6 seconds left.

“The last possession we knew they were going to foul, so it’s just putting our best shooter in the game,” said Lavin, of Hooper, a 3-point specialist who is 2-of-4 from the free-throw line this season.

Cotton capitalized, driving for the final two of his game-high 21 points, draining the winning shot with 9.8 seconds left. The Red Storm then had their third opportunity to win in the final seconds, but Phil Greene’s shot wouldn’t fall, quieting the crowd for good.

D’Angelo Harrison had missed a game-winning attempt at the end of the first overtime, with the score tied at 77, while Orlando Sanchez missed an open 3-pointer at the end of regulation.

Led by JaKarr Sampson’s 16 points and eight rebounds, St. John’s had recovered from an early 14-2 hole to take its first lead since the opening minute with a D’Angelo Harrison 3-pointer with 3:05 remaining in regulation.

Sir’Dominic Pointer said the pressure of getting their first Big East win is the reason for the Red Storm’s slow start.

“When any team’s 0-4 you’re going to be a little uptight,” Pointer said. “Everybody was so ready to go that I think we were too anxious. We were missing open shots, layups. I think in the second half we cooled down and got more collected.”

Following a loss to DePaul, St. John’s has seen the soft part of the schedule harden around them, making earning an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament seem nearly impossible.

The Red Storm, who had six players score in double figures, started slow, as they always seem to. After St. John’s scored the game’s first two points, Providence went on a 14-0 run, holding onto a lead throughout the half which would never dip below six.

“Once we get back on the winning track, I think we’re going to shoot right off,” Pointer said. “The sky’s the limit. Our season is nowhere near over. It’s just beginning.”

Or it’s the beginning of the end.