Pitt 55

SJU 44

PITTSBURGH – The most embarrassing moments in St. John’s basketball history occurred in this town a year ago.

After a 20-point loss to the Pittsburgh Panthers, six members of the Red Storm went to a local strip club. They convinced a woman to return to the team hotel in a sex-for-cash deal that went bad. She falsely accused them of rape, costing three of them their St. John’s careers.

Last night St. John’s confined its bad moments to the court. The Red Storm scored their fewest points in 13 years and fell to Pittsburgh, 55-44.

It beats making the police blotter.

Despite the horrendous offensive performance, St. John’s was in the game midway through the second half. The players were unaware of the photo-copied signs that were circulating in the student section known as the Pittsburgh Zoo.

Post Game Party At Club Erotica. St. John’s Players Welcome!

The Red Storm, which stunned Pittsburgh 65-62 earlier this season, was poised to pull off a shocking home-and-home sweep of a program that has played in four straight Big East Tournament Championship games.

“It was 30-32,” said rookie SJU coach Norm Roberts. “The game was right there for the anybody.”

Trailing 32-28, Daryll Hill lofted a perfect alley-oop pass that Ryan Williams caught at the top of the backboard and slammed home. It should have charged up the Red Storm.

“That’s usually what happens,” said Williams, who got eight points and six rebounds off the bench. “You get an exciting play like that and it turns you up.”

Instead, St. John’s (8-12, 2-8 Big East) flatlined. Pittsburgh (16-4, 6-3) went on a 17-6 surge to secure the win. Twelve of the 17 points came in the paint as Brooklyn’s Chris Taft (12 points, eight rebounds) and Chevy Troutman (19 points, seven boards) took over.

“I think we’re in good shape,” said Roberts. “We can play all day. These guys love to play. They’re young men.”

*

What’s gotten into umpire Curtis Shaw? He opened the night by calling a three-second violation on Chevy Troutman. Then he called a palming violation on Pittsburgh’s Antonio Graves and one on Lawrence.

He slapped Carl Krauser with a technical foul when The Bronx native protested an offensive foul call by shouting, “Come on!” He ejected a fan that didn’t like the technical.

Then Shaw stared down Daryll Hill and Phil Missere after they objected to calls.