RJ Luis Jr. totaled 21 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists as No. 22 St John’s withstood several comeback attempts and pulled away for an 85-71 victory over visiting New Mexico on Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden in New York.
After winning their first three games over Fordham, Quinnipiac and Wagner by a combined 76 points, the Red Storm began a challenging week that will see them face No. 12 Baylor in the Bahamas on Thursday.
St. John’s (4-0) led New Mexico (3-1) for the final 33-plus minutes and placed five players in double figures to give Rick Pitino his third win in four career games coaching against his son Richard Pitino, the Lobos’ coach and formerly at Florida International and Minnesota.
Luis Jr. posted his second double-double this season and made 8 of 18 shots, including two of his seven layups in the final four minutes after St. John’s survived New Mexico’s final rally.
Deivon Smith added 12 of his 15 points in the first half when the Red Storm led by as many as 16. Kadary Richmond compensated for committing seven of the Red Storm’s 16 turnovers by collecting 14 points, eight rebounds, five assists and four steals. Richmond helped St. John’s outscore New Mexico 22-12 in the final eight minutes
Aaron Scott contributed 14 and six rebounds while Zuby Ejiofor recorded 13 and 10 boards as St. John’s outrebounded New Mexico 49-32 and scored 48 points in the paint.
Nelly Joseph, who played for the elder Pitino at Iona, and Mustapha Amzil led the Lobos with 16 points apiece. CJ Noland added 15 and Donovan Dent was held to 12 as New Mexico shot 43.8 percent, missed 11 of 18 free throws and was unable to get its second win over a ranked team after beating then-No. 22 UCLA on Nov. 8.
St John’s began surging ahead when it scored 11 straight points and opened a 25-13 lead on a 3 by Luis with 7:24 left in the first half shortly after New Mexico burned a 30-second timeout. The lead expanded to 34-19 on Smith’s layup with 4:26 left after Scott blocked Dent on the previous possession. The Red Storm held a 40-29 lead at halftime.
Joseph’s hoop cut the deficit to 63-59 with 8:01 left after Ejiofor was called for traveling, but St. John’s began surging ahead again and took a 72-61 lead on Scott’s basket remaining following two offensive rebounds.
