Sports

STORM MARCH TO UPSET

For the nation’s elite, Georgetown being one of them, March has meant runs in the Big East and NCAA tournaments. But for St. John’s, once an elite program, March has come in like a lion and the Red Storm has gone out like a lamb.

Not since 2003 has the Red Storm won a truly meaningful game this late in the season. They beat the Hoyas in the NIT championship game that year. Then darkness replaced madness.

Until last night at the Garden.

The Red Storm rallied from 15 down with 10 minutes left to clip Georgetown 59-56 in overtime.

“One of the best games I’ve been a part of as a coach,” Norm Roberts said. “I’m really proud of my guys. They showed tremendous character and toughness.”

They did, and therefore St. John’s (15-15, 6-11 Big East) is .500 and enjoying March.

“It’s March,” said Roberts. “Anything can happen.”

It did. St. John’s opened the second half by going 0-for-14 from the field and committing six turnovers to trail 45-30 with 10 minutes to go.

Roberts pulled starters Sean Evans and Justin Burrell for Tomas Jasiulionis and Rob Thomas to send a message and maybe light a spark. The spark turned into a flame and St. John’s closed the game on a 15-5 run.

Thomas had a career-high 16 points, including two free throws with 2.3 seconds left to tie the game at 51 and force overtime.

“Crazy,” said Thomas when asked what he was thinking on the line. “A lot of stuff in my mind.”

The Hoyas (15-13, 6-11) were crushed. Coach John Thompson III said it was the most disappointing loss he has ever experienced. Super tough guard Chris Wright was in tears.

“St. John’s, did what they had to do coming down the stretch,” said JT III.”They got shots, second shots. They made foul shots. Coming down the stretch, we didn’t. We didn’t.”

Georgetown, which was outrebounded 46-25 and missed 9-of-16 free throws (St. John’s made 15-of-17) set up a last-second play in regulation, but Wright fumbled with ball out of bounds.

For the first time in 91 meetings, St. John’s and Georgetown headed to overtime.

The Hoyas’ Greg Monroe (18 points) converted two foul shots after Malik Boothe was called for an questionable intentional foul, but Nikita Mescheriakov missed a pair that would have given Georgetown a 58-55 lead, instead it stayed 56-55.

D.J. Kennedy (nine points, 10 boards) knocked down two free throws to give St. John’s a 57-56 edge. Burrell forced Monroe into a turnover. The shot clock dwindled until Paris Horne lofted a scoop that didn’t hit the rim.

But Burrell attacked the rebound and threw down a two-handed power dunk with 10.1 seconds left – just as the shot clock was about to expire – for a 59-56 lead. Bedlam!

Thompson called a timeout with 2.9 seconds left. DaJuan Summers’ 3 at the top of the key was off and March was in for St. John’s.

“A lot of times we have confidence but we don’t always believe,” said Burrell. “Today when we got to overtime, we all believed.”

St. John’s believes in March again. Madness.

lenn.robbins@nypost.com

St. John’s 59 G’Town 56