St. John's University Athletics
Ohio State Cruises Past St. Johns, 71-58
12/14/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
St. Johns jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead on a three-pointer by freshman guard Willie Shaw (Bronx, N.Y./John F. Kennedy), but Ohio State used a 23-8 run over a nine minute span during which they connected on 14 of 18 shots from the field. During that span, St. Johns connected on only 7-of-17 shots and committed seven turnovers. OSU connected on 17-of-25 shots from the field in the first half, including four three pointers.
"They shot well, they made some big shots, St. Johns Head Coach Mike Jarvis said afterward. They did what they were supposed to do. We can't get behind by that big of a margin and expect to come back on the road.
The Red Storm trailed by as many as 16 points in the second half, and pulled to within 11 points, 61-50, on a jumper by senior forward Reggie Jessie (Queensbridge, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin). After forcing a turnover, St.Johns turned the ball over and Brian Brown, who scored a game-high 18 points, was fouled while hitting a layup, giving the Buckeyes a 64-50. SJU would pull to within nine points, 65-56, on a power move inside by freshman forward Kyle Cuffe (Bronx, N.Y./Rice), but Brown came back and hit a 15-foot jumper seconds later to seal the win.
Boban Savovic added 15 points and Ken Johnson had 11 points and nine rebounds for Ohio State (6-2), which won its fourth game in a row. Ohio State shot 57 percent from the field to 42 percent for St. John's.
Cuffe and freshman guard Omar Cook (Brooklyn, N.Y./Christ the King) scored 12 points apiece, while Shaw finished with 11 for the Red Storm. Junior forward Anthony Glover (Bronx, N.Y./Rice), the Red Storm's leading scorer at 19 points a game, hit just 3-of-7 shots from the field and finished with six points, three rebounds and no assists in 32 minutes.
St. Johns returns to action on Saturday, December 16 hosting Hofstra in an unusual home game at Nassau Coliseum. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. Fans are encouraged to bring (unwrapped) toys to the game as part of the St. Johns Athletic Departments Annual Toy Drive.