St. John's vs. Xavier halftime notes

At the end of half numero uno in Cincinnati, the St. John's Red Storm are giving the No. 6 ranked Xavier Musketeers a run for their money. The Johnnies trail the Musketeers by the score of just 38-36 after Durand Johnson knocked down a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer.

The former Pittsburgh Panther has been integral to the successes of the Red Storm in the first half. Johnson has 10 points to this point in the game and is 3-for-6 from the field and 3-for-3 from the free throw line. Leading in points for Chris Mullin's bunch is guard Felix Balamou. Balamou has 11 points at the end of the first half with a 5-for-8 mark from the field as he's been no doubt active on the offensive end.

Kassoum Yakwe has eight points on 50 percent shooting (4-8 FG), two blocks and four boards. A sore spot has been Malik Ellison's 0-for-5 mark from the field. With even two makes there, the Johnnies could very well be ahead of the sixth-ranked team in the country.

Speaking of Xavier, they have not seen many of their shots fall to this point. Though forward James Farr is 4-for-5, no other Musketeer is shooting better than 40 percent, sans Sean O'Mara who only has taken two field goals. As a unit, X has a 12-for-33 (36.4 percent) mark from the field and is just 3-for-12 from the 3-point line. Trevon Bluiett leads the Musketeers with 11 points.

Xavier is outrebounding St. John's 30-20, 20-14 defensively and 10-6 offensively.