St. John’s Wins Another Title

Marcus Hatten helped St. John’s win a championship. And the Red Storm fans helped him celebrate.

Hatten ended his collegiate career with a championship, scoring 22 points as St. John’s won its sixth National Invitation Tournament with a 70-67 comeback victory over Big East rival Georgetown in front of 12,406 Thursday night in Madison Square Garden at New York.

Boisterous St. John’s fans rushed the court after the game as “New York, New York” played. Fans crowded around Hatten and lifted him up on their shoulders. When Hatten was announced as the tournament MVP, fans chanted, “Marcus Hatten!”

Afterward, St. John’s cut down the nets and wore T-shirts that had “6-time NIT champions” on the back.

“There’s no better feeling,” Hatten said. “Even if it’s not an NCAA championship, it’s an NIT championship. I’m just glad to be a part of history right now.”

Elijah Ingram made two free throws with 4.1 seconds remaining to secure the victory. Tony Bethel missed a three-point attempt that would have tied it as the buzzer sounded.

Georgetown’s Michael Sweetney led the Hoyas with 25 points, nine rebounds and six blocks.

The game came down to the final two minutes. After the Hoyas (19-15) trailed for most of the second half, Bethel tied it at 67 with 1:27 remaining. Hatten made one of two free throws to give St. John’s (21-13) a 68-67 lead with 1:13 to go.

The Hoyas had another chance to take the lead, but failed to get the ball inside to Sweetney. They were forced to pass the ball outside, and Riley missed a shot with 4.1 seconds to go. That’s when Ingram made his final free throws.

St. John’s won its first NIT title since 1989 and has the most victories in the tournament’s history (45). The Red Storm expected to win another title, even posting a note in the locker room that said, “Know your ring size. St. John’s goes for No. 6.”

The win completes a remarkable turnaround for the Red Storm. St. John’s entered its game against Duke on March 2 at 12-12. But the Red Storm upset the Blue Devils, 72-71, on Hatten’s free throw with no time left, starting a stretch of nine victories in 10 games.

Texas Tech 71 , Minnesota 61 -- Andre Emmett had 23 points and eight rebounds to help the Red Raiders (22-13) hang on to win the consolation game at New York.

Texas Tech blew a 19-point lead as Minnesota (19-14) went on a 20-9 run to tie the score at 54 with less than six minutes remaining. But Texas Tech made seven of eight free throws in the final 1:04 to hold on.