The first eight minutes of this game portended to a lethargic Thanksgiving weekend struggle against a low-major opponent St. John’s should blow out. Holy Cross vaulted to an early 18-10 lead after a mid-range jumper by DeAndre Williams.
Then the Johnnies woke up from their slumber.
R.J. Luis, who was making his long-awaited St. John’s debut, gashed the Crusaders in the paint with 12 of his 14 points coming inside the paint. Luis, Joel Soriano, and Chris Ledlum skewered the Crusaders by combining for nine straight makes inside the paint to catapult St. John’s to a 34-10 run to end the half.