In a nail-biting encounter, St. John’s managed to secure a 75-73 victory against Providence on Wednesday in New York, with Joel Soriano and Daniss Jenkins each contributing 16 points. The game, marked by a tight finish, saw the Red Storm fend off a resilient Providence team, securing their fourth win in five Big East games.
Jenkins showcased his sharpshooting skills, going 4-of-5 from beyond the arc, while RJ Luis Jr. added 12 points and eight rebounds, including a crucial offensive rebound in the closing moments. Despite teammate Brady Dunlap missing two free throws with just six seconds left, Luis Jr.’s rebound proved vital in securing the narrow win.
St. John’s started the game strong, racing out to a 20-5 lead. However, Providence, led by Devin Carter’s outstanding performance, fought back into the game. Carter recorded a career-high 31 points, matching his career high with 13 rebounds, and contributing four steals for the Friars. Despite Carter’s heroics, Providence suffered their third consecutive loss.
As the clock winded down, Garwey Dual made a critical 3-pointer to beat the shot clock, followed by a steal from Carter, who laid it in for a sudden five-point swing, narrowing the deficit to 68-64 with 2:59 remaining. Although the Red Storm scored four points, Carter’s three-pointer kept Providence in the game.
The game’s tension reached its peak as Soriano made only 2 of 4 foul shots, and Carter drew a foul attempting a three with 24 seconds left. Carter made the first two free throws, missed the third, but Rafael Castro’s rebound gave Providence hope. Carter then scored on a layup after a timeout, cutting the deficit to 74-73.
Dunlap, who returned to the game after suffering a lower-body injury, missed two crucial free throws. However, Luis Jr. secured the rebound and, despite missing the first, made the second foul shot, securing the winning margin.
Jayden Pierre led Providence with 17 points, including three made 3-pointers, while Davonte Gaines contributed 11 points. Dunlap’s early contribution with nine points, along with a balanced scoring effort from eight Red Storm players in the first half, propelled St. John’s to a 40-29 halftime lead.
Despite a slow start to the second half, where St. John’s shot 1-for-9, they responded to a strong Providence comeback with a 17-3 stretch, featuring key plays from Soriano and Jenkins. Jenkins’ fourth 3-pointer of the game forced Providence to play catch-up once again, ultimately securing the hard-fought victory for St. John’s.
