Red Storm men’s basketball team equals its largest-ever margin of victory in BIG EAST play
Produced by: Red Storm Sports
February 19, 2022
The St. John's men's basketball team matched its largest-ever margin of victory in 43 years of BIG EAST play, defeating Butler, 91-57, on Friday at Carnesecca Arena.
The Red Storm equaled a BIG EAST high-water mark that was set on Feb. 15, 1999 in a 104-70 victory over Providence at what was then known as Alumni Hall. St. John's would go on to make the Elite Eight that spring.
The Johnnies (15-11, 7-8 BIG EAST) shot 61.4 percent (35-of-57) from the floor, marking the first time since an 81-71 win over West Virginia on Dec. 29, 2021, that the Red Storm shot better than 60.0 percent from the field in a BIG EAST game. The Johnnies connected on 11 triples in just 22 attempts, went 10-for-11 from the line, tallied 23 assists on 35 made buckets and outrebounded the Bulldogs, 35-21.
The leading scorer in the BIG EAST, Julian Champagnie eclipsed the 30-point mark for the third time this season, finishing with 31 points, seven rebounds and a career-high seven steals. Only two Johnnies have ever recorded more than seven steals in a game: Marcus Hatten, who did it three times from 2001-03, and Bernard Rencher, who had eight thefts in 1980.
Aaron Wheeler proved to be an incredibly efficient scorer again on Friday night against the Bulldogs (13-14, 6-10 BIG EAST), netting 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting. The Purdue transfer, who went 4-of-5 from downtown, has now reached double figures in 13 of his last 14 games and is averaging 13.8 points per outing in BIG EAST play.
Posh Alexander tallied his third double-double of the season, registering 13 points and 10 assists. The sophomore, who ranks second in the league in assists per game, from Brooklyn made five of his six field goal tries, blocked two shots and came away with two steals in 28 minutes of action.
Fordham transfer Joel Soriano made four of his five field goal attempts to finish with eight points, six boards and pair of blocks.
Montez Mathis and Dylan Addae-Wusu added six points apiece for the Red Storm, which has now won four of its last six.
Down 20-19 following a Myles Tate triple with just over seven minutes remaining in the first half, St. John's blew the game open with a 17-3 run. Wheeler drained a pair of triples on the burst while Alexander scored three points and dished out four assists on the six other Red Storm field goals.
Alexander gave the Red Storm its largest lead of the laugh just before the halftime buzzer, launching a shot from half court that banked home and put the Johnnies up by 16, 46-30, at the break.
Leading by 15, 54-39, with 14:35 to go, St. John's quickly undid any thoughts of a Butler comeback by going off on a 22-4 run. Seven different Johnnies scored on the spurt, led by six points from Champagnie.
St. John's climbed ahead by as many 35 in the closing minutes before end the contest with a record tying 34-point margin of victory.
The Red Storm will return to action on Carnesecca Arena on Wednesday night when it welcomes Creighton to Queens. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. on FS1.