St. John’s fails first test in upset loss to No. 15 Alabama

Last year, St. John’s had a finishing gear, a level it could hit with the game on the line.

Saturday afternoon, Alabama hit that extra gear. 

The 15th-ranked Crimson Tide broke open a close game late with a 14-1 run and pulled out a 103-96 victory at the Garden to send No. 5 St. John’s to its first loss. 

The Johnnies rallied from 11 down to briefly take the lead, but ran out of gas.

Really, they had no answer for Alabama’s dynamic guards Labaron Philon and Aden Holloway, who combined for 46 points.

St. John’s was hammered in the paint, 54-40, and outscored by 15 from 3-point range. 

They also allowed 14 offensive rebounds, leading to 19 second-chance points.

Zuby Ejiofor led St. John’s with 27 points and 10 rebounds, but 21 came in the first half. Bryce Hopkins added 19 points.

Ian Jackson and Oziyah Sellers each scored 14 after slow starts, while Joson Sanon missed six of seven shots from the field. St. John’s was without Dylan Darling, the lone traditional point guard on its roster, due to a calf strain.