St. John’s Men’s Basketball used Vince Cole’s 19 points and its high-pressure defense to recorded 16 steals and force 26 La Salle (0-1) turnovers en route to an 82-65 lopsided victory Thursday afternoon at Carnesecca Arena.
The Red Strom move to 2-0 on the young season and capture The Lapchick Tournament title for the 43rd time versus one defeat in the event’s history.
Cole added five rebounds, four assists, and two steals in the triumph. Plus, the former NJCAA All-American went a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line, leading a St. John’s team that buried 20 of its 24 attempts from the charity stripe on the afternoon.
Additionally, Marcellus Earlington dropped in 14 points, connecting on five-of-eight from the floor, while Greg Williams Jr. contributed 13 points and four boards.
Freshman Dylan Addae-Wusu, a Bronx native and product of Our Savior Lutheran High School, scored 10 points on four-of-seven shooting, in addition to grabbing six boards.
Isaih Moore chipped in with nine points and a game-high seven rebounds. Posh Alexander, a promising player out of Brooklyn, enjoyed a solid tilt, registering eight points, four assists, and three steals.
Still, sans their top two returning scorers from last season in the form of Rasheem Dunn (concussion) and Julian Champagnie, the Johnnies have been able to showcase their other talent on the squad in both wins.
The Red Storm will return to the hardwood Monday when the team heads to Mohegan Sun for a matchup with former BIG EAST rival Boston College. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. on ESPNU and AM 970.
— Jerry Del Priore
