Newton leads No. 2 UConn past St. John's 95-90 and into first Big East title game since 2011
NEW YORK (AP) For the first time since Kemba Walker took UConn on that “Kardiac” ride, the Huskies are back in the Big East championship game.
Tristen Newton had 25 points and nine assists as No. 2 Connecticut advanced Friday with a rollicking 95-90 victory over St. John's at Madison Square Garden.
Cam Spencer added 20 points and nine assists for the top-seeded Huskies (30-3), who will face 10th-ranked Marquette on Saturday night after the third-seeded Golden Eagles defeated No. 7 seed Providence 79-68 in the second semifinal.
“We're going to treat it like it’s the Super Bowl,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said.
It's the 11th appearance in the Big East Tournament final for the Huskies and first since Walker carried them to their thrilling 2011 title with five wins in five days. Connecticut had been 0-3 in conference semifinals since rejoining the league in 2020-21 after spending seven seasons in the American Athletic Conference.
“We've been (trying) all year to win multiple championships, and this is one of the stops,” Newton said.
St. John's (20-13) fell behind by 14 with 12:28 left and couldn't climb all the way back. The fifth-seeded Red Storm stayed in the game for much of the way against the reigning national champions, but couldn't quite keep up.
Johnnies point guard Daniss Jenkins poured in 27 points before a split crowd inside a rocking Garden for this matchup between original Big East members. Jordan Dingle scored 19.
“These guys played their tails off,” Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino said. “You score 90 points against the defending national champions, I think you're doing a lot of things right.”
Alex Karaban had 14 points for the Huskies, who overcame foul trouble for 7-foot-2 center Donovan Clingan. They improved to 6-0 at MSG this season with their sixth consecutive victory overall and 20th in 21 games.
“I think we showed that we could win any type of game,” Hurley said.
Playing in the Big East semifinals for the first time since winning the 2000 tournament, St. John’s had won six games in a row - four of them by at least 14 points.
“That's one of the better teams we’ve played, one of the more talented teams, and clearly an NCAA Tournament team," Hurley said.
Both famous coaches were fired up throughout this one and received matching technical fouls in the first half for yelling at officials.
“I haven’t had a technical in a long, long time. I was really looking forward to that moment,” the 71-year-old Pitino deadpanned.
After making their final 15 attempts from the field in Thursday's 87-60 quarterfinal rout of Xavier, the Huskies shot 63% with six 3s and made 12 of 13 free throws in the first half to take a 52-47 lead into the break behind Newton's 20 points and six assists.
St. John's stayed close thanks to Jenkins, who scored 14 straight Red Storm points in 3:18 early on.
“Obviously, awesome atmosphere,” Hurley said. “Thought it lived up to everything that people hoped for with this game tonight - the emotions, the intensity, the shot-making. It was just a fun game to be a part of.”
BRILLIANT BACKCOURT
Newton and Spencer became the only Division I teammates in the past 25 years to each have at least 20 points, eight assists and no more than one turnover in the same game, according to OptaSTATS.
“They’re just a great, great offensive basketball team,” Pitino said.
BIG PICTURE
St. John's: With their late-season win streak, the Red Storm have made a strong push for their first NCAA Tournament invite since 2019 under coach Chris Mullin. They began the day with an NCAA NET ranking of 32, fourth-best among Big East teams. In his first season at St. John's, Pitino is trying to become the first coach to take six schools to the NCAAs.
“We’ll see who we play,” a confident Pitino said. “If we get the right matchup, we could cause some serious damage.”
UConn: Seeking its eighth Big East Tournament title, which would match Georgetown for the most of any school.
STREAK SNAPPED
Going back to consecutive Big East Tournament championships at Louisville in 2012 and 2013, Pitino had won eight consecutive games in this event. He joked after Thursday’s 91-72 quarterfinal win over Hudson River rival Seton Hall that he had told his players they better not sabotage his streak.
UP NEXT
UConn swept both games against Marquette during the regular season.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | (Huskies gains possession) | |||
19:33 | Tristen Newton misses three point jump shot | |||
19:31 | Chris Ledlum defensive rebound | |||
19:07 | Donovan Clingan blocks Daniss Jenkins's two point jump shot | |||
19:05 | Joel Soriano offensive rebound | |||
19:04 | +2 | Joel Soriano makes two point layup | 2-0 | |
18:34 | Stephon Castle misses two point layup | |||
18:32 | Jordan Dingle defensive rebound | |||
18:25 | Jordan Dingle misses two point layup | |||
18:23 | Red Storm offensive rebound | |||
18:17 | Daniss Jenkins misses two point jump shot | |||
18:15 | Donovan Clingan defensive rebound | |||
17:59 | Stephon Castle offensive foul | |||
17:59 | Stephon Castle turnover (offensive foul) | |||
17:47 | +3 | Daniss Jenkins makes three point jump shot (Jordan Dingle assists) | 5-0 | |
17:36 | Stephon Castle turnover (bad pass) (Daniss Jenkins steals) | |||
17:33 | +2 | Daniss Jenkins makes two point layup | 7-0 | |
17:19 | +3 | Cam Spencer makes three point jump shot | 7-3 | |
17:04 | Chris Ledlum misses three point jump shot | |||
17:02 | Joel Soriano offensive rebound | |||
17:00 | Joel Soriano misses two point layup | |||
16:58 | Chris Ledlum offensive rebound | |||
16:56 | +3 | Daniss Jenkins makes three point jump shot (Chris Ledlum assists) | 10-3 | |
16:41 | +3 | Alex Karaban makes three point jump shot (Tristen Newton assists) | 10-6 | |
16:18 | +2 | Daniss Jenkins makes two point layup | 12-6 | |
16:18 | Donovan Clingan shooting foul (Daniss Jenkins draws the foul) | |||
16:18 | +1 | Daniss Jenkins makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 13-6 | |
16:06 | Joel Soriano personal foul | |||
15:49 | +2 | Donovan Clingan makes two point layup (Tristen Newton assists) | 13-8 | |
15:31 | Donovan Clingan blocks Joel Soriano's two point layup | |||
15:29 | Tristen Newton defensive rebound | |||
15:25 | +2 | Hassan Diarra makes two point layup (Tristen Newton assists) | 13-10 | |
15:25 | Chris Ledlum shooting foul (Hassan Diarra draws the foul) | |||
15:25 | TV timeout | |||
15:25 | +1 | Hassan Diarra makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 13-11 | |
15:01 | Daniss Jenkins misses three point jump shot | |||
14:59 | Tristen Newton defensive rebound | |||
14:51 | +2 | Donovan Clingan makes two point dunk (Cam Spencer assists) | 13-13 | |
14:29 | +3 | Daniss Jenkins makes three point jump shot (Joel Soriano assists) | 16-13 | |
14:24 | +2 | Hassan Diarra makes two point layup | 16-15 | |
14:07 | Nahiem Alleyne misses two point layup | |||
14:05 | Joel Soriano offensive rebound | |||
14:05 | Joel Soriano misses two point layup | |||
14:03 | Stephon Castle defensive rebound | |||
13:59 | Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot | |||
13:57 | Chris Ledlum defensive rebound | |||
13:47 | Chris Ledlum misses two point jump shot | |||
13:45 | Stephon Castle defensive rebound | |||
13:43 | Chris Ledlum shooting foul (Tristen Newton draws the foul) | |||
13:43 | +1 | Tristen Newton makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-16 | |
13:43 | +1 | Tristen Newton makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 16-17 | |
13:23 | +2 | Zuby Ejiofor makes two point dunk (Nahiem Alleyne assists) | 18-17 | |
13:23 | +3 | Tristen Newton makes three point jump shot (Alex Karaban assists) | 18-20 | |
12:42 | Stephon Castle personal foul (Nahiem Alleyne draws the foul) | |||
12:23 | Daniss Jenkins misses two point layup | |||
12:22 | Samson Johnson defensive rebound | |||
12:22 | Zuby Ejiofor personal foul (Samson Johnson draws the foul) | |||
12:09 | +2 | Tristen Newton makes two point layup | 18-22 | |
11:55 | Samson Johnson shooting foul (Zuby Ejiofor draws the foul) | |||
11:55 | TV timeout | |||
11:55 | +1 | Zuby Ejiofor makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 19-22 | |
11:55 | +1 | Zuby Ejiofor makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 20-22 | |
11:27 | Alex Karaban turnover (lost ball) (Daniss Jenkins steals) | |||
11:22 | Daniss Jenkins misses three point jump shot | |||
11:19 | Red Storm offensive rebound | |||
11:15 | Donovan Clingan blocks Zuby Ejiofor's two point layup | |||
11:13 | Donovan Clingan defensive rebound | |||
10:56 | +3 | Cam Spencer makes three point jump shot (Hassan Diarra assists) | 20-25 | |
10:29 | +2 | RJ Luis Jr. makes two point jump shot (Daniss Jenkins assists) | 22-25 | |
10:02 | Joel Soriano blocks Cam Spencer's two point layup | |||
10:01 | Joel Soriano defensive rebound | |||
10:01 | Donovan Clingan personal foul (Joel Soriano draws the foul) | |||
9:42 | Daniss Jenkins turnover (bad pass) (Samson Johnson steals) | |||
9:34 | Hassan Diarra misses three point jump shot | |||
9:33 | Huskies offensive rebound | |||
9:33 | Glenn Taylor Jr. personal foul (Samson Johnson draws the foul) | |||
9:28 | +3 | Tristen Newton makes three point jump shot (Samson Johnson assists) | 22-28 | |
9:07 | Glenn Taylor Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
9:05 | Cam Spencer defensive rebound | |||
9:01 | +2 | Jaylin Stewart makes two point layup (Cam Spencer assists) | 22-30 | |
9:01 | Red Storm 30 second timeout | |||
8:45 | Jaylin Stewart shooting foul | |||
8:45 | +1 | Nahiem Alleyne makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-30 | |
8:45 | +1 | Nahiem Alleyne makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 24-30 | |
8:16 | Joel Soriano shooting foul (Cam Spencer draws the foul) | |||
8:16 | Rick Pitino technical foul | |||
8:16 | Huskies turnover | |||
8:16 | +1 | Cam Spencer makes technical free throw 1 of 2 | 24-31 | |
8:16 | +1 | Cam Spencer makes technical free throw 2 of 2 | 24-32 | |
7:55 | RJ Luis Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
7:53 | Tristen Newton defensive rebound | |||
7:46 | +2 | Tristen Newton makes two point layup | 24-34 | |
7:22 | RJ Luis Jr. offensive foul (Jaylin Stewart draws the foul) | |||
7:22 | RJ Luis Jr. turnover (offensive foul) | |||
7:22 | TV timeout | |||
7:09 | Tristen Newton misses three point jump shot | |||
7:07 | Brady Dunlap defensive rebound | |||
7:01 | +2 | RJ Luis Jr. makes two point layup (Brady Dunlap assists) | 26-34 | |
7:01 | Cam Spencer shooting foul (RJ Luis Jr. draws the foul) | |||
7:01 | +1 | RJ Luis Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 27-34 | |
6:45 | Brady Dunlap personal foul (Cam Spencer draws the foul) | |||
6:45 | +1 | Cam Spencer makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 27-35 | |
6:45 | +1 | Cam Spencer makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 27-36 | |
6:28 | +3 | Brady Dunlap makes three point jump shot (Daniss Jenkins assists) | 30-36 | |
6:03 | Hassan Diarra misses two point layup | |||
6:01 | Nahiem Alleyne defensive rebound | |||
5:58 | Nahiem Alleyne misses three point jump shot | |||
5:56 | Red Storm offensive rebound | |||
5:47 | RJ Luis Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
5:45 | Tristen Newton defensive rebound | |||
5:40 | Nahiem Alleyne shooting foul (Tristen Newton draws the foul) | |||
5:40 | Tristen Newton misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
5:40 | +1 | Tristen Newton makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 30-37 | |
5:23 | Samson Johnson shooting foul (RJ Luis Jr. draws the foul) | |||
5:23 | +1 | RJ Luis Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-37 | |
5:23 | +1 | RJ Luis Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 32-37 | |
5:23 | Huskies 30 second timeout | |||
4:54 | Tristen Newton misses three point jump shot | |||
4:52 | Jaylin Stewart offensive rebound | |||
4:49 | Tristen Newton offensive foul (Nahiem Alleyne draws the foul) | |||
4:49 | Tristen Newton turnover (offensive foul) | |||
4:38 | Jaylin Stewart blocks RJ Luis Jr.'s two point layup | |||
4:36 | Cam Spencer defensive rebound | |||
4:30 | +3 | Tristen Newton makes three point jump shot (Cam Spencer assists) | 32-40 | |
4:28 | Red Storm 30 second timeout | |||
4:28 | TV timeout | |||
4:10 | Brady Dunlap misses three point jump shot | |||
4:08 | Jaylin Stewart defensive rebound | |||
3:50 | +2 | Jaylin Stewart makes two point layup (Tristen Newton assists) | 32-42 | |
3:36 | Alex Karaban shooting foul (Daniss Jenkins draws the foul) | |||
3:36 | +1 | Daniss Jenkins makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 33-42 | |
3:36 | +1 | Daniss Jenkins makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 34-42 | |
3:33 | Nahiem Alleyne personal foul (Tristen Newton draws the foul) | |||
3:33 | +1 | Tristen Newton makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 34-43 | |
3:33 | +1 | Tristen Newton makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 34-44 | |
3:10 | +3 | Jordan Dingle makes three point jump shot (Zuby Ejiofor assists) | 37-44 | |
3:05 | Hassan Diarra turnover (bad pass) | |||
3:02 | +2 | Jordan Dingle makes two point jump shot (Daniss Jenkins assists) | 39-44 | |
2:45 | +2 | Alex Karaban makes two point layup (Tristen Newton assists) | 39-46 | |
2:21 | +2 | Zuby Ejiofor makes two point hook shot | 41-46 | |
2:11 | Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot | |||
2:09 | RJ Luis Jr. defensive rebound | |||
2:07 | RJ Luis Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Tristen Newton steals) | |||
2:02 | +2 | Jaylin Stewart makes two point dunk (Cam Spencer assists) | 41-48 | |
1:47 | Daniss Jenkins misses two point layup | |||
1:45 | Alex Karaban defensive rebound | |||
1:40 | +2 | Jaylin Stewart makes two point dunk (Tristen Newton assists) | 41-50 | |
1:11 | Jordan Dingle misses three point jump shot | |||
1:09 | Brady Dunlap offensive rebound | |||
1:07 | +2 | Brady Dunlap makes two point jump shot | 43-50 | |
1:01 | Hassan Diarra turnover (lost ball) | |||
0:51 | Daniss Jenkins misses two point layup | |||
0:49 | Glenn Taylor Jr. offensive rebound | |||
0:45 | +2 | Jordan Dingle makes two point layup | 45-50 | |
0:16 | Solomon Ball misses three point jump shot | |||
0:14 | Glenn Taylor Jr. defensive rebound | |||
0:09 | +2 | Zuby Ejiofor makes two point dunk (Sean Conway assists) | 47-50 | |
0:05 | Jordan Dingle personal foul (Tristen Newton draws the foul) | |||
0:05 | +1 | Tristen Newton makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 47-51 | |
0:05 | +1 | Tristen Newton makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 47-52 | |
0:00 | End of period |