Men's Basketball Falls to St. Johns in Double Overtime

1/22/1998

PITTSBURGH (AP)- Collin Charles' tiebreaking layup started a run of seven straight points in the final 48 seconds of the second overtime as St. John's beat Pittsburgh 90-83 on Thursday night.

The Red Storm (14-6, 6-3 Big East) extended its winning streak to five games and surpassed last year's victory total. St. John's is off to its best start in five seasons.

Pittsburgh is 7-6 and 2-4 and has lost its last four games against St. John's.

Zendon Hamilton led St. John's with 26 points and 16 rebounds.

Charles' basket came after Pittsburgh's Vonteego Cummings had thrown the ball away. Although Cummings led the Panthers with 27 points, he failed to make a number of critical plays down the stretch. Cummings missed a 3-point shot that would have won the game in regulation time.

He was driving to the basket at the end of the first overtime but had the ball swatted away by Hamilton. Cummings also missed two of four free throws in OT and made only four of 10 free throws in the game. His shooting percentage was better from 3-point range as he made 3-of-6.

Pittsburgh held a two-point lead with 1:22 left before Ron Artest scored for St. John's. After Charles put St. John's ahead, the Red Storm made five of six free throws to seal the win.

St. John's overcame a cold shooting start and a subpar game by guard Felipe Lopez. The Red Storm made only three of its first 17 field goal attempts. Lopez, who leads St. John's with an 18.9 points per game average, was held to seven points, matching his career low.

Lopez had only one point in the game's first 28:38. He fouled out with 1:23 left in regulation.

The Panthers' Ricardo Greer and Isaac Hawkins each scored 17 points and Hawkins had nine rebounds.

Artest scored 15 points while Tyrone Grant contributed 11 points and 15 rebounds. St. John's held a 50-38 edge in rebounds.