Jan. 3, 2010

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QUEENS, N.Y. -- D.J. Kennedy totaled 13 points and 11 rebounds to record his 10th-career double-double and Justin Brownlee scored a team-high 14 points to mark his sixth game in double figures since the start of December, but it was not enough as a turnover-plagued Red Storm fell to Providence, 74-59, before 5,003 at Carnesecca Arena on Sunday evening.

Playing without starting point guard Malik Boothe, who is nursing a strained groin from the Red Storm's loss at Georgetown on New Year's Eve, St. John's (10-4, 0-2 BIG EAST) turned the ball over 23 times, resulting in 21 Friar points. The Red Storm hadn't totaled as many miscues since last Feb. 14 at Marquette (24).

"We had a chance to open it up, but didn't take advantage," said head coach Norm Roberts. "We got in a rush in the last four minutes and didn't make plays. Not having Malik [Boothe] is not an excuse. We have to play better, make better decisions. We'll get better from it."

Second half play truly turned the contest into a "game of runs." After Providence (9-5, 1-1 BIG EAST) took a one-point lead to open the period, the Red Storm put together a 13-4 stretch over the first six minutes of the second half. St. John's was keyed by the efforts of Kennedy, who scored seven points by himself in the first 3:20 of the final stanza.

The Red Storm could not find a way to ice the game, however, and the Friars countered with a 10-2 run of their own, tying the contest at 48-all at the 11:15 mark.

After a Dwight Hardy layup gave STJ a 54-50 lead with 7:53 to play, the Red Storm offense hit a cold streak. St. John's went more than four minutes without a field goal, and connected on just 2-of-11 shots to close out the half. Providence finished the contest on a 20-5 run over the final seven minutes, dealing St. John's its first loss at Carnesecca Arena in nearly a year (Jan. 22, 2009 vs. Cincinnati).

The Red Storm shot 56.5 percent in the first half (13-for-23) and controlled the glass for a 22-14 advantage, while limiting Providence to 30.3 percent shooting from the field (10-for-33). Twelve Friar points were scored off turnovers, as St. John's tallied 15 giveaways in the opening period. Junior guard Paris Horne had eight to lead the Red Storm, which led 33-32 at the break.

The Red Storm gets a small break before traveling to face Louisville on Saturday, Jan. 9. Tip-off from Freedom Hall is scheduled for noon in a contest that will air in the New York area on SNY.