St. John's University Athletics
Hattens Heroics Lead Red Storm Past BC, 71-62
2/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
No place like home, a wonderful, wonderful feeling, St. Johns Head Coach Mike Jarvis said afterward. Obviously, we are very, very happy for a very special group of guys, for the effort they put forth, and the results.
We keep looking at the stats and they are never pretty, but most of the time, we find a way to win. The guys did that tonight in a very, very big, as they all are, and important, game coming down the stretch.
After leading by as man as 18 points in the second half, Boston College caught fire they shot 45.2 percent from the field in the second half and cut the Red Storm lead to six points on a three-pointer by Troy Bell with 1:55 remaining in the game. Junior guard Marcus Hatten (Baltimore, Md.), who scored a game-high 31 points, his fourth game this season with at least 30, stole the ball on the way back down and then sank one of two free throws with 1:35 left to increase SJUs margin to 64-57. St. Johns proceeded to connect on seven of 10 shots from the line in the last 1:24 to seal the win.
Hatten finished the night with 31 points, five rebounds, three assists and four steals, giving him 86 for the season and moving him past Erick Barkley (99), who had the school record for steals in a season with 84.
The Red Storm led 35-22 at the break and scored eight of the first 10 points in the second half to extend their margin to 18 points, 43-25, on Hattens fourth trifecta of the game. They were able to maintain that lead through much of the second half, but BC crawled back in, using a 13-5 run over a 5:03 span to cut the margin to six points, 63-57, before Hatten took over once again.
In the first half, the Red Storm jumped out a quick 7-0 lead after back-to-back three-pointers from Hatten and a free throw from junior guard Andre Stanley (Brooklyn, N.Y.). The Eagles pulled to within six points, 18-12, on a leaning bank by Jermaine Watson with 8:02 to play, but the Red Storm used a 10-0 run over a 3:03 span with Glover scoring four during that span to open a 28-12 lead. A pull-up jumper by Hatten, who led all scorers with 15 points, with under 20 seconds left gave SJU a 35-22 lead at the break.
SJUs 13-point lead at halftime was its biggest in a BIG EAST game this season, topping the 12-point margin against West Virginia on January 5.
Senior forward Anthony Glover (Bronx, N.Y.) was the Red Storms only other player in double figures, finishing the night with 10 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots. Sophomore guard Willie Shaw (Bronx, N.Y.) scored all seven of his points in a span of 4:30 in the second half, while senior Sharif Fordham (Far Rockaway, N.Y.) finished with nine points, five rebounds and four steals. Senior center Donald Emanuel (Houston, Texas) added five points and six rebounds, Stanley finished with four points, four rebounds and a team-best five assists and sophomore forward Kyle Cuffe (Bronx, N.Y.) added five points, two rebounds and a blocked shot.
St. Johns connected on 38.5 percent of its field goals (20-of-52) and 41.7 percent of its three-pointers (5-of-12).
The Red Storm travel to North Carolina this weekend, playing third-ranked Duke on Sunday. The game, which tips off at 4 p.m., can be seen live on CBS and will be broadcast on ESPN Radio 1050 AM.
