St. John’s turn back clock; Clock Hoyas to advance in BIG EAST Tourney
NEW YORK -- Chris Mullin versus Patrick Ewing. St. John’s against Georgetown. Madison Square Garden had a throwback Big East aura to it on Wednesday as the 2017 Big East Tournament opened in with a classic rivalry reviving the gritty memories of old school battles between the two famed programs.
Although St. John’s improved from last season, expectations in Queens are rising with each passing game. Georgetown fans haven’t been shy in their disdain for coach John Thompson III — emphatically jeering as he’s announced in pregame introductions. Wednesday’s meeting, the rubber game of the split season series, presented an opportunity for one program to extend its season and send the other into a daunting offseason.
Both teams fought for the chance to keep their season alive, but in the end, it was St. John’s holding off the Hoyas in the closing minute to seal a 74-73 win at the Garden and clinch a spot in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals for the first time since 2011.
"Big time win for us," said Malik Ellison, who was all over the court, finishing with 11 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and three assists. "Obviously, there's been a huge rivalry over the last 40 years. And it was great that we came together as a team and we got the victory."
Thirty minutes of momentum shifting culminated in a frantic scene on the court midway through the second half after a hard foul by Amar Alibegovic on LJ Peak resulted in pushing and shoving that pushed the Italian off the court as a crowd of players began to surround the area. Mullin, on the opposite end of the court, came over from his coaching area to speak with the officials but found himself back by the St. John’s bench being restrained after exchanging words with Georgetown players and coaches, including assistant Patrick Ewing, Jr.
“I just went out there to see what was going on. I saw Amar go into the stands. I wanted to make sure he was okay,” Mullin said. “Everything else just nothing really going on. Close game like that, the whole team is going to lose, their season is over. And I think it was just really competitive juices flowing and towards the end of the game there. But initially I just went out there to see I saw him walk and fall into the stands and that's it.”
Cooler heads prevailed and an enticing game followed with both teams nailing crunch-time buckets — Shamorie Ponds immediately hit a 3-pointer to inject some more energy into the crowd but Peak was in rhythm in the second half, scoring 22 of his 24 in the latter period.
Peak needed 26 to win, however as Tariq Owens, the Big East’s leading shot blocker, made his first rejection of the game with just seconds on the clock as Peak attacked the basket before a buzzer-beating follow ended the Hoyas season in heartbreaking fashion.
After the game, Mullin shook hands with the Georgetown squad and took a moment to speak with Ewing Jr. About what? He revealed he “asked if [Ewing Jr.] was going to beat me up like his father did. He said no, I love you, so I said OK. He was on the trip with us in Barcelona when he was a little baby. So, yeah, just tremendous respect there. There really is. And it was nothing more than competitive juices, nothing more than that. This time. In '85 there was more to it. Not in the year 2000.”