Nov 17, 2024; New York, New York, USA; St. John’s Red Storm guard Deivon Smith (5) drives to the basket in the second half against the New Mexico Lobos at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
RJ Luis Jr. scored nine of his 18 points during a decisive first-half run for No. 22 St. John’s, which earned an 80-55 victory over Virginia in the consolation game of the Baha Mar Championship in the Bahamas.
Deivon Smith (10 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists) nearly had a triple-double for St. John’s (5-1), which fell to No. 13 Baylor 99-98 thanks to Jeremy Roach’s 3-pointer over the horn in double overtime Thursday night. Kadary Richmond scored 12 points, while Zuby Ejiofor (eight points, nine rebounds) nearly had a double-double.
Elijah Sanders scored 12 points while Andrew Rohde scored 11 points off the bench for Virginia (3-2), which opened play in the Bahamas with a 64-42 loss to No. 11 Tennessee on Thursday night. Isaac McKneely added 10 points.
Virginia took its only lead Friday at 7-6 on a 3-pointer by Dai Dai Ames with 15:58 left in the first half. Richmond’s dunk 37 seconds later gave St. John’s the lead for good and began a 10-0 run in which the Cavaliers went 0 for 2 from the field and 0 for 3 from the line, in addition to committing three turnovers.
An Aaron Scott 3-pointer put St. John’s ahead by double digits for the first time at 19-8 before Virginia scored the next eight points and pulled within three points on a Blake Buchanan jumper with 9:24 left. minutes.
Luis Jr. hit a three-pointer to start a 16-0 run for St. John’s. Virginia went 0 for 4 with six turnovers during the Red Storm’s run, which lasted more than seven minutes.
McKneely scored seven points, including a four-point play in the final second, and the Cavaliers finished the first half on a 10-4 run that cut the deficit to 39-26. Saunders opened the second half with a layup, but St. John’s scored the next six points.
The Red Storm went ahead by 20 points at 52-32 thanks to a dunk by Luis with 14:27 left and opened their biggest lead at 72-43 when Ejiofor hit a jumper with 6:01 left.
–Field level media
How significant is this victory for St. John’s in terms of building momentum and establishing themselves as a contender this season?
## World Today News: St. John’s Dominates Virginia in Baha Mar Championship
**Host:** Welcome back to World Today News. Today’s focus is on the thrilling college basketball action from the Baha Mar Championship in the Bahamas. We’ll be dissecting St. John’s impressive win over Virginia, featuring two experts on NCAA hoops. Joining us today are [Guest 1 Name], a renowned sports analyst, and [Guest 2 Name], a former college basketball coach with invaluable insight. Welcome to both of you!
**Guests:** Thank you for having us.
**(Section 1: Game Recap & Standout Performances)**
**Host:** Let’s jump right in, gentlemen. St. John’s dominated Virginia, securing an 80-55 victory. [Guest 1 Name], what were your initial impressions of this game?
**Guest 1:** Well, St. John’s controlled the tempo from the start. They showed incredible defensive intensity and capitalized on Virginia’s turnovers, particularly in that crucial first-half run.
**Host:** [Guest 2 Name], Deivon Smith almost achieved a triple-double with a near-perfect stat line. How crucial was his playmaking and all-around contributions to St. John’s success?
**Guest 2:** Smith was the engine driving St. John’s offense. His ability to find open teammates, control the pace, and contribute on both ends of the floor was invaluable. This type of performance highlights his leadership and basketball IQ.
**(Section 2: St. John’s Resilience and Momentum)**
**Host:** This win followed a heartbreaking double-overtime loss to Baylor just a day earlier. [Guest 1 Name], how did St. John’s manage to bounce back so effectively and maintain their composure against Virginia?
**Guest 1:** This speaks to the team’s resilience and character. A loss like the one against Baylor can easily deflate a team, but St. John’s showed mental toughness by putting that behind them and focusing on the next challenge.
**Host:** [Guest 2 Name], do you believe this decisive victory can serve as a springboard for St. John’s going forward?
**Guest 2:** Absolutely! This win builds momentum and confidence. It proves they can compete and win against quality opponents even after a setback.
**(Section 3: Virginia Struggles and Lessons Learned) **
**Host:** Virginia seemed to struggle to maintain offensive consistency throughout the game. [Guest 1 Name], what were some key factors that contributed to their offensive difficulties?
**Guest 1:** Virginia struggled with their shooting, particularly from three-point range. They also committed a worrying number of turnovers, which allowed St. John’s to capitalize.
**Host:** Looking ahead, what lessons can Virginia take away from this game to improve their performance?
**Guest 2:** They need to focus on ball security and shot selection. Taking care of the basketball and finding more efficient scoring options will be crucial for their future success.
**(Concluding Remarks)**
**Host:** Gentlemen, thank you for offering your insightful analysis of this exciting game. St. John’s delivered a powerful performance, while Virginia has some areas to work on. [Guest 1 Name], any final thoughts?
**Guest 1:** St. John’s is definitely a team to watch in the coming season. They have the talent and defensive intensity to make a deep run.
**Host:** [Guest 2 Name], any closing remarks?
**Guest 2:** This game showcased the unpredictable nature of college basketball. Every game is a battle, and teams need to be prepared for anything.
