The Northwestern Wildcats ran out to a quick halftime lead at 40-37 and looked like they would extend their record to 9-0 for the first time since the 1993-94 season.
St. John’s Redmen, though, playing on one of their home floors in front of many of their own fans, took over the game in the second half, outscoring the Wildcats 48-29 and winning going away by 16 points. They shot nearly unconscious percentages — 60.8% from the floor, 7-for-14 from three-point land and made 16 of 21 free throws (the Wildcats couldn’t break 50% in any of those categories).
Dwight Hardy led St. John’s with 24 points and Justin Brownlee had 21. Northwestern was led by John Shurna with 28 and Drew Crawford with 17.
The Wildcats head home to face Mt. St. Mary’s on Thursday at 3 p.m. in Evanston.