St. John’s Holds Off Monmouth

With several fresh faces and an infusion of transfers now at St. John’s, few can downplay the importance of the two-man foundation that is Posh Alexander and Julian Champagnie.

Following Alexander’s promising freshman season and Champagnie’s emergence as one of the most consistent, versatile scorers in both the Big East and the country, they play a prominent role as the battle-tested core. Champagnie is averaging 28 points in both of SJU’s losses, including a veritable second half 3-point clinic during an otherwise forgettable loss to Kansas in Long Island.

Alexander scored a team-best 21 points, including the game-sealing free throws with eight seconds remaining, and Champagnie scored 16 points (along with five assists, four steals and three blocks) as SJU withstood a late Monmouth rally in an 88-83 home win Thursday night.

Montez Mathis added 14 points and five assists and Dylan Wusu’s poised play continued, as the Our Savior Lutheran product dished out seven assists to go with 11 points and six rebounds. Monmouth’s Shavar Reynolds scored a game-best 25 points and Marcus McClary (14 points) keyed the Hawks’ comeback bid, scoring 11 during the second half.

The Red Storm (7-2) lengthened the lead to 11, 50-39, on an O’Mar Stanley layup. A jumper from freshman Rafael Pinzon, who played at Long Island Lutheran, followed by a 3-pointer from Stef Smith extended the lead to 70-57 with 9:19 left.

St. John’s nearly frittered away an eight-point edge during the final minute and 30 seconds of the game.

Walker Miller netted a 3-pointer that cut it to 83-75 with 1:10 remaining. George Papas, an All-MAAC guard who entered the game averaging 17 points but put forth an irregular performance going 2-for-12 (1-for-9 3FG), was fouled on a 3-point attempt and converted all three free throws to cut it to 83-81 with 53 seconds remaining.

Wusu hit on 1 of 2 free throws with 14 seconds remaining. Monmouth then lost possession of the rebound, as the ball knocked off the Hawks’ Nikkei Rutty as Alexander gave chase. The sophomore guard out of Our Savior Lutheran calmly sank two free throws as St. John’s survived the scare.