"It wore the label "exhibition game," but Saturday night's meeting between No. 5 St. John's and No. 7 Michigan at the Garden definitely didn't play like one. They waged a highly competitive battle that certainly indicated both probably are worthy of their preseason national rankings, and nothing was decided between them until the last 10 seconds of overtime. Lefteris Liotopoulos was fouled on a three-point shot with 8.4 seconds left"
"The elements of the game were important, but the bottom line is the question of whether St. John's is ready for what Pitino has called the " most challenging schedule St. John's has ever played." The Red Storm will open the season on Nov. 3 against Quinnipiac at Carnesecca Arena and will be back at the Garden five days later to face 15th-ranked Alabama before three high-level games at a late November tournament in Las Vegas and a date with No. 9 Kentucky in December."
St. John's fell to Michigan 96-94 in overtime after Lefteris Liotopoulos was fouled on a three with 8.4 seconds remaining and missed two of three free throws. The game drew 13,287 fans and remained undecided until the final 10 seconds of overtime. Coach Rick Pitino questioned the team's readiness for an early slate that includes Alabama, Kentucky, Ole Miss and a Las Vegas tournament. Michigan shot 52 percent overall and 42 percent from three. Pitino attributed defensive lapses and limited guard rebounding to many new transfers lacking experience playing together; two starting guards fouled out.
Read at Newsday
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