Red Storm Turn-Around Quick vs. Missouri in SF of Advocare Invitational

(Photo taken by St. John's University Athletics)

Orlando, FL--The best effort on defense, and showing a sense of urgency and care, has proved that the number of Justin Simon's back, is where this team belongs in the win column, as the St. John's Red Storm (5-0) takes on the Missouri Tigers (4-1) in the second round of the Advocare Invitational at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida.

This is the first time that a St. John's Red Storm team has advanced in a Thanksgiving tournament since the 2014 preseason NIT versus the Minnesota Gophers. 

The Red Storm trailed by double digits with less than 10 minutes to go in regulation, just in time to come back and defeat the Oregon State Beavers by five to advance to the second round of the Advocare Invitational. Chris Mullin's squad pulled off a 17-2 run in the final minutes of the contest to beat the Beavers.

Shamorie Ponds dished 26 points earlier today, when shooting 5/17 from the field, but going perfect from the charity stripe (15/15). This win for the Johnnies bumps them up in the turnover margin category, where they are now sitting alone atop the Big East chart with +9.6 on the season.

Heading into tomorrow's game, the Johnnies have three double digit point scorers that include Shamorie Ponds (19.0 PPG), Marcus LoVett (15.6 PPG), and Bashir Ahmed (12.0).

The last meeting between the Missouri Tigers of the SEC and the Red Storm, was in 1972 in the Lou Carnesecca era, when the Johnnies defeated the Tigers 82-81 in OT at Alumni Hall.

Projected Lineup for St. John's Red Storm

G- Shamorie Ponds

G- Marcus LoVett

G- Justin Simon

F- Marvin Clark II

F- Bashir Ahmed

The Missouri Tigers have been rebounding very effectively as a squad. The SEC club has a +10.2 rebound margin so far to date. Two players on the squad have double digit that include junior Kevin Puryear and grad student Kassisus Robertson.

Projected Lineup for Missouri Tigers

G- Kassius Robertson

G- Cullen Vanleer

F- Jordan Barnett

F- Jeremiah Tilmon

F- Kevin Puryear

The Johnnies will be able to be viewed on ESPNews tomorrow at 11:00am from the HP Field House in the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.