TicketsJan. 23, 2009
NEW YORK -- Junior Deonta Vaughn scored 20 of his game-high 23 points in the second half, including the first 10 of Cincinnati's late 17-2 run, and the Bearcats beat St. John's 71-60 on Thursday night.
Trailing 51-40 with 13:16 to play, Cincinnati (13-7; 3-4 BIG EAST) ended the game on a 31-9 run. During that stretch, Cincinnati held St. John's to 2-of-17 shooting from the floor.
Paris Horne had 20 points for the Red Storm (10-8, 1-5 BIG EAST), who lost their fourth straight and seven of their last eight.
The Red Storm was 6-for-8 from 3-point range in the first half in taking a 39-28 lead. But St. John's hit just two 3-pointers in the second half, the second with 15 seconds to go.
Vaughn started his personal 10-1 run with a drive that brought Cincinnati within 55-54 with 7:34 left. After a free throw by St. John's, Vaughn hit consecutive 3-pointers and then made two free throws with 4:34 to go that gave the Bearcats a 62-56 lead. UC scored the next six points--one by Vaughn--and the lead was 68-56 with 1:01 to play.
Sophomore Rashad Bishop contributed a career-high 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field in 21 minutes. Freshman Yancy Gates was the other Bearcat to score in double-figured, pouring in 11 points.
Justin Burrell added 15 points for St. John's, and Sean Evans had 12 points and 11 rebounds and was 4-for-13 from the free throw line. The Red Storm finished 14-for-31 from the free throw line and had 21 turnovers.
Cincinnati has five days off before No.12/14 Georgetown comes to Fifth Third Arena for a 7:30 p.m. tip on Wednesday, Jan. 28.