St. John's University Athletics
St. John's to Face LIU Brooklyn at Barclays Center
12/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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QUEENS, N.Y. - Looking to capture its fourth-consecutive win, the St. John's men's basketball team will take a short trip to Brooklyn on Sunday, squaring off against the Blackbirds of LIU Brooklyn (6-3) inside Barclays Center at 12 p.m.
The contest will be televised nationally on FS1 with Dave Sims and Jim Spanarkel on the call. The game will also air on 970 AM WNYM, as John Minko and Vin Parise will call the action from Barclays Center.
St. John's (5-5) enters the contest following one of its most complete and efficient efforts in recent memory, dominating local rival Fordham, 90-62, on Thursday night at Carnesecca Arena. The Red Storm made 32 of its 55 tries from the field, including a 15-of-31 effort from beyond the arc. Just 10 games into the season, the Red Storm has already set a single-season program record for the most games with 10 or more 3-pointers, having accomplished the feat seven times. The 2009-10 Red Storm squad previously held the record with six double-digit performances in 33 games.
Freshman sensation Shamorie Ponds led four Johnnies in double figures against the Rams, tallying career-highs with 26 points, nine assists and four steals. The rookie from Brooklyn, who also grabbed seven rebounds, made nine of his 13 tries from the floor, including a 7-of-11 showing from three-point territory. Federico Mussini also proved deadly from distance against Fordham, shooting 7-of-9 from the field and 4-of-6 from beyond the arc to finish with 20 points. Bashir Ahmed added 11 points and six rebounds, while Tariq Owens chipped in a career-high 10 points and blocked four shots, his third-straight game with four or more rejections.
Ponds and backcourt mate Marcus LoVett, who has missed the past two games with injury, have come together to form one of the nation's most fearsome duos. The pair combines to average 36.1 points per game, the second highest total of any teammates in the BIG EAST (Rodney Pryor and L.J. Peak of Georgetown average 36.4) and the highest total of any freshmen teammates in the nation. LoVett's 18.8 points per game are fourth among Division I rookies, while Ponds is not far behind in seventh place at 17.3 points per outing.
Sunday's contest will carry special significance for two members of the Red Storm program, as second-year head man Chris Mullin will coach his first game in his home borough and Ponds, a fellow Brooklyn native, will play his first collegiate game at the Barclays Center. Last season, Ponds led Thomas Jefferson High School, located less than five miles from Barclays Center, to its first PSAL title since 1954. He also scored 17 points and recorded two steals in the Jordan Brand Classic All-America Game, played at the home of the Brooklyn Nets.
St. John's-LIU Brooklyn will be the first matchup of a doubleheader that will feature Hofstra and No. 6/7 Kentucky in the second tilt.
