A pair of groups with minimal relaxation will face off in Nassau, Bahamas, on Sunday when No. 22 St. John takes on Georgia.

St. John’s (5-1), which is able to play its third sport in 4 days, started the stretch within the Bahamas Championship on Thursday, dropping a heartbreaker to No. 13 Baylor.

The Pink Storm led by 18 within the first half earlier than Baylor compelled extra time. From there, St. John’s rallied from 5 down with 1:47 left to ship the sport to a second extra time, the place it noticed Baylor knock down a pair of 3-pointers within the remaining seven seconds — together with Jeremy Roach’s buzzer-beater — to knock off the Pink Storm 99-98.

Within the third-place sport on Friday, St. John’s breezed previous Virginia 80-55. RJ Luis Jr. led the best way with 18 factors and 4 steals, adopted by Kadary Richmond’s 12 factors, because the Pink Storm took a one-point lead with 15:21 left within the first half and did not path once more.

“I am actually impressed with our guys, coming off a double-overtime, extraordinarily emotional loss,” St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino stated. “To reply that manner was extraordinarily spectacular, each offensively and defensively.”

Pitino, in his second 12 months with the Pink Storm, was moved by one thing off the court docket on Friday, involving captain Zuby Ejiofor, who chipped in eight factors, 9 boards, two steals and two blocks. Ejiofor was serenaded by St. John’s followers through the win, following his two missed free throws on the finish of double extra time in opposition to Baylor.

“If you’ve solely been in a job for a 12 months, you seek for belongings you love about a spot,” Pitino stated. “Tonight I came upon what I really like about St. John’s. Our followers chanted Zuby’s identify the entire sport, which does not occur wherever else in America. I used to be actually impressed with our followers and I thank them for making Zuby really feel good, as a result of he provides you all of the power.”

Luis leads the Pink Storm with 17.3 factors per sport, adopted by Ejiofor (10.7), Aaron Scott (10.5), Deivon Smith (10.3) and Richmond (10.2).

Georgia enters Sunday’s matchup seeking to rebound from its first loss after falling to No. 15 Marquette 80-69 on Saturday.

Georgia (5-1) battled again from a 15-point, second-half deficit, however was held to only three factors over the ultimate 4:57 in Saturday’s loss. Blue Cain led the Bulldogs with a season-high 17 factors, together with 5 3-pointers.

“It is a course of. It is a journey with this staff,” Bulldogs head coach Mike White stated. “It is about persevering with to make strides, persevering with to guard our tradition. … On the finish of the day, wins and losses are going to maintain themselves. We simply should embrace the method and revel in it.”

5-star freshman recruit Asa Newell was held to a season-low 9 factors however leads the staff with 15.5 factors per sport. Silas Demary Jr. is second with 13.8.

–Discipline Stage Media