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LAS VEGAS — If Tuesday’s rousing rout of Baylor was a step in the appropriate course, then Wednesday was a significant step again.
With an opportunity to move dwelling on a profitable be aware, St. John’s was sloppy, shaky defensively and blew an 11-point second half lead in a dismal 85-74 setback to No. 21 Auburn to shut out the Gamers Period Pageant.
A hobbled Dylan Darling logged an ineffective seven minutes as Tahaad Pettiford torched the 14th-ranked Johnnies for twenty-four factors. St. John’s was led by Zuby Ejiofor’s 24 factors, though he managed solely seven after halftime.
The Purple Storm have been outscored by 20 factors within the second half and by 17 over the ultimate 9:53.
A day after combining for 48 factors, Bryce Hopkins and Oziyah Sellers mixed to shoot 3-of-17 from the sector.
There was no protection, exterior of a quick stretch late within the first half. Auburn piled up 44 factors within the paint and shot 64 % after halftime.
St. John’s (4-3) fell to 1-3 in power-conference video games and has dropped six consecutive video games towards ranked opponents.
St. John’s began poorly, a reverse of Tuesday’s win over Baylor.
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They have been sloppy, disorganized and missing depth on protection. The Johnnies had dedicated six turnovers by the under-12 timeout.
Auburn was slicing by the Purple Storm protection with ease, scoring 20 of its first 23 factors within the paint. Ejiofor, scoring on nearly each contact inside, saved St. John’s shut till it discovered its footing.
Over the ultimate 5:26, sparked by reserve Sadiku Ibine Ayo’s power, St. John’s held Auburn to a few factors.
They exploded on the opposite finish, ending the half on a 15-3 run to show a seven-point deficit right into a nine-point lead on the break.
Ejiofor loved his greatest half of the journey, scoring 17 factors on 5-of-6 capturing.
The bench, led by 5 factors apiece from Ian Jackson and Ibine Ayo, was productive in additional than doubling up Auburn’s reserves 15-7.
St. John’s pushed the lead out to 11 early within the second half, however then the defensive rebounding points returned.
Two Auburn second possibilities led to a fast six factors and the lead was quickly right down to a single possession. Auburn later reeled off six straight factors to tug even at 61.
Ibine Ayo answered to provide St. John’s the lead again coming into the under-8:00 timeout.
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