PRESEASON NIT : St. John’s, Houston Pull Out Victories

Malik Sealy scored 22 points and No. 25 St. John’s held off North Carolina A&T;, 64-57, in a first-round game of the preseason National Invitation Tournament Thursday night at New York.

The Redmen, playing without starters Jayson Williams and Boo Harvey, had at least two inches over each of the Aggies starters on the front line.

North Carolina A&T; ran off seven unanswered points to get to within 58-54 with 2:10 left on a follow shot by Colin Spady. Robert Werdann hit a free throw for St. John’s and Glenn Taggart, who led the Aggies with 14 points, hit a three-pointer to make it a 59-57 with 55 seconds left.

St. John’s got a driving layup from Sealy and three free throws to put the game away.

Houston 67, Wichita State 66--Byron Smith drove for a layup with 1:03 left to give the Cougars a victory over the Shockers at Wichita, Kan.

The Shockers turned the ball over with 49 seconds to play, and Smith ran out the shot clock to leave Wichita State with just two seconds remaining. Aaron Davis missed a 10-foot shot at the buzzer.

Wichita State’s Lance Kroll made a shot from the lane to give the Shockers their first lead since the first half, 66-65, with 1:33 to play.

Smith scored 26 points, including 19 in the first half, as the Cougars took a 41-37 halftime lead. Craig Upchurch and Carl Herrera each added 13 for Houston.

John Cooper scored 15 points for the Shockers and Davis added 11.