Keyshawn Hall totaled 26 points and nine rebounds in a stellar debut for No. 13 St. John’s, which recorded a 78-63 victory over visiting Monmouth Monday night in the season opener for both teams in New York.
An Auburn transfer, Hall began his tenure at his fifth school by hitting his first six shots and making 9 of 16 shots overall. The forward also went 7-for-7 from the foul line and played 33 minutes.
Ian Jackson contributed 13 of his 15 points after halftime while shooting 6-of-12 for the Red Storm.
Tounde Yessoufou reached double figures by hitting a 3-pointer in the late stages. He finished with 12 points in his St. John’s debut after transferring from Baylor.
Quinn Ellis chipped in eight points, seven assists, five rebounds and five steals in his collegiate debut after spending last season in Italy.
The Red Storm earned the win despite shooting 41.9%. St. John’s made 6 of 20 of 3-point attempts.
Jakai Sanders scored 17 for Monmouth, which was picked fifth in the Coastal Athletic Association’s preseason poll. Madison Durr added 15 and Ashton Walker chipped in 11 as the Hawks shot 42.9% but committed 18 turnovers.
Hall scored nine of the Red Storm’s first 11 points as St. John’s opened a 16-4 lead on a basket by Ellis with 16:07 following a turnover by Stefanos Spartalis. The lead reached 24-6 when Reed Bailey muscled his way inside with 11:49 left.
Hall made his sixth straight shot when he sank a well-contested 3-pointer with 9:01 remaining for a 31-16 lead. Nearly five minutes later, Hall reached 20 points with a tough layup following an offensive rebound for a 41-26 lead.
The Red Storm held a 45-29 lead by halftime but struggled to put things away. St. John’s led 59-47 with about nine minutes to go before Jackson sank two 3s in 56 seconds for a 67-48 advantage.