If it felt like the same story for the St. John’s basketball team in Las Vegas, that’s because it was and it had the same ending.
The No. 15 Red Storm were able to rally from a seven-point second half deficit only to see No. 16 Iowa State (5-0) make the clutch plays late to escape with the 83-82 victory in the opening game of the Players Era Festival.
After trailing by five, 79-74, with three minutes remaining, Oziyah Sellers drilled back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Johnnies (3-2) a one-point lead. Iowa State star Tamin Lipsey was injured after Sellers’ second triple with 2:05 left and did not return.