By GARRETT MILEY Special to ZAGSBLOG PHILADELPHIA — Sir’Dominic Pointer drained a game-winning jumper at the buzzer as St. John’s shot 55.2 percent after the break to erase a 12-point second half deficit and advance into the NIT Second Round with a 63-61 victory on the road against St. Joe’s. “I’ve never hit a shot like that in college,” Pointer said after the game. “It just felt good and to celebrate it with my teammates felt even better.” Pointer finished with 15 points, including a career-high three 3-pointers, seven rebounds and five assists to lead St. John’s (17-15), while JaKarr Sampson added a team-high 16 points to go with five rebounds. Phil Greene IV finished with 10 points, Jamal Branch had nine points and five assists, and Chris Obekpa added six points, eight rebounds and three blocks. After shooting just 36.4 percent (12-of-33) in the first half, the Red Storm fired at a 55.2 percent clip (16-of-29) in the final stanza. St. John’s advanced to face Virginia in the second round with the game date and time to be determined
Johnnies coach Steve Lavin called Pointer’s shot “poetic justice” because of “how bad he felt for embarrassing our program and our school and letting his teammates down.”
Pointer was suspended one game after getting into a fight at Notre Dame March 5.This is a critical time for Lavin and the Red Storm.
After blowing a chance to make the NCAAs by losing eight of 10 down the stretch, the NIT represents a chance to get players like Pointer and Sampson postseason experience.
“For where we are, in the of infancy stage of program, in terms of the evolution of our program and rebuilding, this is a big moment,” Lavin said. “We all wanted to be in the NCAA Tournament but this was the first postseason game for our team. Not a member of our team on scholarship has been to the postseason. And now to get a postseason win makes it even more important as we move forward in building this program.”
Pointer is a perfect representation of where the St. John’s program is at this very moment. Young, inexperienced, immature at times, but undoubtedly talented.
“Couldn’t be prouder of him coming off of the Notre Dame fight and the embarrassment and shame he went through,” Lavin said. “I want to see the breakthrough and reward for handling and responding to the discipline the right way and that was just to go back to work and apologize to his teammates. It was authentic and real. Dom’s one of the more authentic people I’ve been around in my life.”
Looking ahead to next year when this NIT run ends, St. John’s has the potential to be one of the top teams in the new Big East.
If Sampson and/or suspended guard D’Angelo Harrison return and combine with forward Orlando Sanchez (who was recently granted a waiver and will be eligible to play next season), St. John’s could have one of the most formidable teams in the league.
“Youngest team in school history, the youngest team in country,” Lavin said. “We were given a fresh start and new beginning in the NIT and we’re hoping we make a run this year. Regardless, this is all about a gateway to next year.”
On the recruiting front, St. John’s is one of the three finalists for Rysheed Jordan, the highly sought after point guard from Vaux Roberts, who will announce April 15.
Jordan is also considering UCLA and Temple, and Temple head man Fran Dunphy watched him Tuesday in Philly.
Still, Pointer pointed out that the Red Storm are not a finished for this year.
“We’re a young team,” Pointer said. “But learning…Just learning.”
(With wire services)
