The Latest: Ponds' shot gives St. John's tournament title
NEW YORK (AP) — The Latest on the Legends Classic (all times local):
10:30 p.m.
Shamorie Ponds scored 35 points, including a running floater with 4.8 seconds left in overtime to lift St. John's to an 87-86 victory over VCU for the championship of the Legends Classic at the Barclays Center on Tuesday night.
Isaac Vann made two free throws with 10.9 seconds left to give the Rams (4-1) a one-point lead. The Red Storm (5-0) called a timeout then got a pass to Ponds, who drove to the left side before putting in a left-handed bank shot. Marcus Evans attempted a straightaway 3-pointer for VCU which came up short, though a replay appeared to show he was hit on the arm as he shot.
Ponds, who scored 32 points against Cal the night before, scored with 28 seconds left in regulation to give St. John's a 73-72 lead before Evans made 1 of 2 free throws to tie with 5.8 seconds remaining.
Ponds also had seven assists and seven steals. LJ Figueroa added 15 points and nine rebounds.
Vann, a junior, led VCU with a career-high 30 points, making four 3-pointers and all 10 of his free throws. The Rams committed 22 turnovers, 14 off steals.
St. John's notched its first championship in an early-season tournament since the 2010-11 Great Alaska Shootout.
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7:30 p.m.
Quinton Rose scored 14 of his 23 points in the second half, Shizz Alston Jr. turned in a double-double and Temple defeated California 76-59 on Tuesday night for third place in the Legends Classic at the Barclays Center.
Rose made 11 of 20 shots and the Owls (5-1) shot 54 percent, including 9 of 21 from the arc for 43 percent. Alston, who had three 3-pointers, grabbed 10 rebounds. He scored nine points and Nate Pierre-Louis scored all nine of his in the second half when the Owls pulled away after leading 32-28 at halftime.
Pierre-Louis scored five points and Alston four in a 9-0 run that left the Owls up 72-54 with two minutes left.
Darius McNeill made three from the arc and finished with 12 points for Cal (1-3). Paris Austin, Andre Kelly and Matt Bradley added 10 points each.
