NEW YORK -- Shamorie Ponds scored 22 points, Justin Simon had 13 points and 12 rebounds, and St. John's pulled away early from Nebraska for a 79-56 victory on Thursday night.
Bashir Ahmed scored 15 points and Marcus LoVett added 13 with three assists for St. John's (3-0), which outrebounded Nebraska 50-39 and outscored them 44-16 in the paint. Ponds had seven rebounds and five assists, and scored 20-plus for the second straight game. Simon added four steals in recording his second straight double-double.
"This was our biggest test to date on this early season, and it was definitely going to pose some huge challenge -- particularly on things that we haven't done well in game situations, which are rebounding and defensive play," St.