TicketsJan. 7, 2012
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CINCINNATI -Moe Harkless made a tip-in at the buzzer to lift St. John's University to a 57-55 win over the University of Cincinnati Saturday at Fifth Third Arena.
On the last possession of the game, St. John's guard D'Angelo Harrison, who produced a team-high 18 points, drove to the right baseline and took a running jump shot that rimmed out. Harkless rushed to the basket and tipped the ball in just before the buzzer to end the game.
During the previous possession, UC freshman guard Jeremiah Davis III drilled a three-pointer from the left baseline that tied the score 55-55 and capped a 15-5 UC run in the final minutes.
Cincinnati played well enough defensively to win, holding the Red Storm to just 36.4 percent shooting and forcing 19 turnovers. But the Bearcats shot just 26.3 percent from the field, despite consistently getting good shot attempts out of its motion offense.
Redshirt sophomore guard Sean Kilpatrick led all scorers with 21 points. Senior forward Yancy Gates was the only other Bearcat to reach double-digit points after coming off the bench and scoring 10.
After starting the second half by capping a 12-0 run that began with 1:05 left in the first, St. John's later added a 13-0 run that put UC behind 15 points at 43-28.
The Bearcats used its rebounding prowess and full-court defense to overcome poor shooting and enter halftime with a 25-22 lead.
Cincinnati out-rebounded St. John's 25-18 in the first half and converted 11 first-half Red Storm turnovers into 12 points.
Kilpatrick carried the offensive load in the first 20 minutes, scoring 13 of UC's 25 points for his 14th double-figure scoring game of the season.
Gates put UC on the board with a fast-break dunk that was assisted by junior guard Jaquon Parker at the 16:11 mark after starting the game 0 for 7 on field-goal attempts.
Beginning at the 12:21 mark, Kilpatrick scored seven straight points, which included UC's first three-pointer of the game, to ignite a 12-0 run that put UC ahead 18-10.
The Bearcats began the day 0 for 8 from three before Kilpatrick's trey from the left baseline at the 11:47 mark of the half.
After St. John's trimmed the lead to four points, Kilpatrick made his second trey of the game to put UC back ahead by seven at 22-15 with 6:38 left in the first half.
Kilpatrick's third three-pointer from the left wing lifted UC up 25-18 with 2:12 left.
Cincinnati travels to the nations' capital on Monday when it plays No. 9 Georgetown at 9 p.m. at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. The game will be televised live on ESPNU.