As the Fox announcers said Saturday, Madison Square Garden had 'April' basketball in early November. Before the game, some college basketball experts knew Alabama was capable of beating St. John's, but almost no one predicted an Alabama victory.
St. John's outshot Alabama from outside the arc and at the free-throw line, but Alabama won the rebounding battle and had a sizable advantage of 54 points in the paint to St. John's 40. The Red Storm shot 18 more free throws than Alabama, giving them +14 points at the line. Given the game's intensity throughout, it was well officiated.