The Red Storm are back under .500 after an 81-74 overtime loss to Seton Hall at MSG on Saturday.
St. John’s missed seven of eight shots in the extra session, although Chris Mullin didn’t think the offense was clicking for the majority of the afternoon. “I just didn’t feel like we played with any pace or any crispness, and it showed in overtime,” Mullin said. “It was a struggle just to get them to play with pace, and just play with some energy. That’s on me. That’s my responsibility.”
Neither team led by more than six points until a Seton Hall dunk in the final seconds. After a quiet first half, Shamorie Ponds finished with 25 points and six assists although he missed all six of his attempts from beyond the arc. Marvin Clark II scored 19 points and hauled in 10 rebounds. Bashir Ahmed scored 12 points but missed the front end of a one-and-one with St. John’s down by three with 29 seconds remaining.
One costly mistake came with the Red Storm down 75-72, as Clark II committed a foul by half court. “It was a dumb foul and if anything gave them the advantage and won them the game,” admitted Clark II.
The foul was not called for from the sidelines. “You practice, you drill and talk situations but as we all know the game flows and things happen,” Mullin said.
After Ahmed missed a free throw and St. John’s needing to commit a foul, the Johnnies let 13 critical seconds run off the clock before sending the Pirates to the line.
Khadeen Carrington led the way with 22 points for Seton Hall. Myles Powell scored 18 despite shooting 1-11 from three. Angel Delgado scored 14 points, including back to back baskets to set the tone early in overtime. Ismael Sanogo and Myles Cale added 10 points apiece.
This was the second straight loss for St. John’s, following an 85-73 setback at Marquette. “I think the last two games we’ve been really flat,” Mullin said. “That kind of bothers me more than anything. Mistakes are fine, missed free throws, bad fouls; that happens. It’s a 40 minute game, go play.”
St. John’s plays at Carnesecca Arena for the final time this season on Wednesday against Butler before finishing the regular season on the road at Providence.