11/21/25 02:34:00
Printable Page
11/21 14:32 CST No. 14 St. John's routs Bucknell 97-49 for biggest blowout
under Pitino
No. 14 St. John's routs Bucknell 97-49 for biggest blowout under Pitino
By LARRY FLEISHER
Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) --- Bryce Hopkins had 20 points in 17 minutes for his
highest-scoring game in nearly two years, and No. 14 St. John's routed Bucknell
97-49 on Thursday night.
It was the most lopsided win for the Red Storm in three seasons under Hall of
Fame coach Rick Pitino, and their biggest margin of victory since blowing out
Mississippi Valley State 119-61 in November 2021.
St. John's (3-1) has scored at least 90 points in each of its first four games
for the first time in school history.
Hopkins, who tore his left ACL in January 2024 and played only three games for
Providence last season because of trouble with the same knee, shot 7 of 9 from
the field and has scored in double figures in every game this season.
Hopkins had 13 points in the first half and hit two 3-pointers in the final 11
1/2 minutes of the period, when the Red Storm began asserting themselves after
missing 11 of their first 14 shots.
The forward reached 20 points for the first time since scoring 26 for
Providence against Sacred Heart on Dec. 16, 2023.
Reserve guard Ian Jackson added a season-high 20 points for the Johnnies. Ruben
Prey scored 14 off the bench as the Red Storm shot 50.8% and racked up 32
fast-break points.
Dillon Mitchell had 10 points, 11 rebounds, four steals and three blocks in 20
minutes off the bench. Leading scorer and rebounder Zuby Ejiofor was held to
five points and four rebounds.
Amon Dorries scored 12 for Bucknell (2-4), which dropped its fourth straight.
The Bison shot 29%, committed 24 turnovers and remained winless against ranked
opponents since beating No. 17 Syracuse on Nov. 22, 2005.
St. John's trailed by four midway through the first half but took an 11-point
lead on a 3-pointer by Prey with 4:02 left in the period. The Red Storm ended
the half with an 18-5 run for a 41-25 lead.
Hopkins reached the 20-point mark by hitting a 3 with 11:47 remaining for a
63-34 advantage.
Up next
Bucknell: Will face Bowling Green on Monday in Fort Myers, Florida.
St. John's: Will play No. 16 Iowa State on Monday in Las Vegas.
___
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up
here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball:
https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and
https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
|
