Duke survives St. John's three-point barrage, advances to Elite Eight

Rick Pitino said on Thursday that for his team to have a chance to beat top overall seed Duke in the Sweet 16, the Red Storm would have to make some three-pointers. At times, it seemed that Pitino's prediction would come true, as the Red Storm hit nine threes in the first half, two more than their season average, and when a three by Ruben Prey gave St. John's a nine-point lead following a 13-0 run in the early part of the second half, the Blue Devils seemed to be in trouble.

Cameron Boozer, Isaiah Evans and Caleb Foster, in his first game since March 7, responded. Foster scored all 11 of his points in the second half, while Evans put up a game-high 25 and Boozer finished with another double-double (22 points, 10 rebounds) as the Blue Devils survived to advance to the Elite Eight after an 80-75 victory. With 4:21 left, St.

John's took a two-point lead as Dillon Mitchell dunked it back in on a missed free throw. Evans responded with a three-pointer, while Cameron Boozer followed with a jumper to make it a three-point lead. Foster hit a jumper with 2:14 left to extend the lead to six, but St.

John's responded with a three to cut it back to three. Foster came up clutch again, making a bucket with 1:27 left. Bryce Hopkins responded, cutting the lead to three once again.