PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Marcus LoVett scored 26 points, Shamorie Ponds added 22 and St. John's closed on a 6-0 run to beat Providence 91-86 on Wednesday night.
Ponds made two free throws with 1:13 left to give St. John's an 87-86 lead and Darien Williams stole it on the other end. LoVett had his jumper blocked by Alpha Diallo with 13.6 seconds left and Providence's Kyron Cartwright lost it going up for a potential game-winning shot. LoVett saved it with an over-the-shoulder pass before falling out of bounds and Ponds, a freshman, made two free throws with 1.