/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45879370/usa-today-8428144.0.jpg)
Observations
- St. John's opened the game with a 7-0 lead, but the Friars responded with an 18-0 run of their own. Dunn scored seven of Providence's first nine points, and the Red Storm went a full ten minutes without a field goal before Jamal Branch broke the streak with a lay-in at the seven-minute mark.
- It's not a surprise, but Providence's two-headed monster of Kris Dunn and LaDontae Henton have been dominating today. At the half, Henton has 11 points and five rebounds, while Dunn has put up nine points, five assists, two rebounds, two steals and a block. That's your Big East Player of the Year, folks.
- Rysheed Jordan came out midway through the second half with what was diagnosed as a right wrist sprain, but returned a few minutes later around the five-minute mark. He looks like he's in a lot of pain, trying to shake his hand around, but for now, he's in the game with a whole lot of tape on that injured wrist. Since his return, Jordan has been the biggest burst of energy for St. John's, increasing his point total to ten while doing a nice job getting aggressive with Dunn defensively
- The Red Storm have shot an abysmal 26 percent from the field today, settling for a lot of long two's and contested three's. By the same token, the Friars have been phenomenal on the defensive end, picking up five steals and four blocks in the first half alone.
- Both teams are struggling to take care of the ball, racking up the turnovers in the first half. The Friars have given up the ball nine times, while the Red Storm have coughed it up seven times on the day.
Statistical Leaders
Providence:
Points - LaDontae Henton, 11
Rebounds - Henton & Tyler Harris, 5
Assists - Kris Dunn, 5
St. John's:
Points - Rysheed Jordan, 10
Rebounds - Chris Obekpa & Sir'Dominic Pointer, 4
Assists - Pointer & Phil Greene, 1