The Red Storm’s offense was night and day from their season opener to Sunday’s matchup against Iona. St. John’s gave no quarter and played in a collective flow for all forty minutes, polishing off a 104-65 clotheslining of the Gaels in their first Madison Square Garden game of the young season.
St. John’s produced an offensive performance that was equal parts explosive and equitable. Their 104 points are the most they’ve scored since opening night of last season, and they shot 55.2% from the field
and 46.4% from three (13-of-28). Five players scored in double figures, and the Johnnies gave out 22 assists to only four turnovers. Quinn Ellis accounted for half of those helpers, yet surrendered only one giveaway.
Ian Jackson set the pace by sinking a trio of three-pointers in the opening minutes, and he went on to finish with 17 points (7-of-12 shooting).
That opening flurry gave St. John’s the lift to claim another early double-digit lead, and instead of letting it stagnate around the teens as they did against Monmouth, they kept building on it throughout the game.
The Red Storm disoriented the Gaels with their press, forcing 15 first-half turnovers and turning them into 24 extra points to build a massive 54-23 advantage. They then pushed the lead to 42 points after a Lefteris Liotopoulos triple midway through the second half, and would even win the second half despite giving heavy minutes to their reserves.
Tounde Yessoufou rebounded from his quiet St. John’s debut with what could be the first of many outstanding games for the Red Storm. The Baylor transfer led his squad with 23 points, seven rebounds, and three steals, shooting 9-of-14 from the field and a team-high 4-of-7 from three.
The Red Storm (2-0) return to action at Carnesecca Arena on Wednesday, November 11, when they face the Colgate Raiders. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m., and Peacock will broadcast the game.
