St. John’s pulls away from Colgate for 90-59 win

St. John’s improved to 3-0 with its third straight double-digit victory, using a dominant second half to defeat Colgate. The Red Storm outscored the Raiders 51-27 over the final 23½ minutes and finished shooting 48.4%, including 12-for-30 from 3-point range.

Jackson and Hall led St. John’s with 17 points apiece. Jackson made six of 10 shots, including three 3-pointers, and scored 11 points in the final 3:34 of the first half. After Colgate cut a 15-point deficit to 38-32, St. John’s closed the half with 11 unanswered points, capped by Jackson’s end-to-end basket as time expired.

Tounde Yessoufou added 15 points, four rebounds and three steals. Ruben Prey had 11 points and eight rebounds, while point guard Quinn Ellis recorded nine assists. Prey, who was limited by two first-half fouls, scored nine points and grabbed all eight of his rebounds after halftime. Coach Rick Pitino said Prey was moving constantly on both offense and defense.

Babacar Sane returned from an ankle injury and had nine points and six rebounds in 16 minutes. Theo Edema, sidelined by a foot injury, did not play; Pitino expects him back Sunday. St. John’s also announced that five-star wing Malachi Jordan had signed with the school.

Andrew Alekseyenko led Colgate, now 0-3, with 15 points and eight boards. Colgate hit 37.7% and made seven of 27 attempts from 3-point range. Colgate visits Delaware on Sunday, while St. John’s hosts Syracuse at Madison Square Garden.