‘Historic’: Shamorie Ponds sets record of 44 points at Carnesecca
St. John's guard Shamorie Ponds gesture to fans to cheer against Duke during a game at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Carnesecca Arena — formerly known as Alumni Hall — had never seen a performance like the one Shamorie Ponds put on in St. John’s 86-78 victory over Marquette on Saturday.
The Brooklyn-born sophomore scored 44 points to set a record for the on-campus arena. It broke the mark of 43 set by St. John’s Malik Sealy on Nov. 24, 1990, against Central Connecticut State.
“Historic,” said another St. John’s great, coach Chris Mullin. “He broke the building record. That speaks for itself. It’s just an incredible performance.”
The 44 points ranks as the fourth-highest output by a St. John’s player, tied with Marcus Hatten’s 44 at the Garden in a win over Rutgers on March 6, 2003.
The only players in St. John’s history to have scored more are Bob Zawoluk, who had 65 in March 1950, and Harry Boykoff, who had 54 in March 1947 and 45 in February 1943.
Asked about breaking Sealy’s record, Ponds said, “It was a blessing after all those great players that came through.”
Ponds, who is averaging 21.4 points, has been on an amazing run since his worst game of the season just a couple of weeks ago. In the Jan. 27 blowout loss at Butler, he was 0-for-12 and scored two points. In the four games since, he is averaging 33.5 points and has shot 55.8 percent from the floor (48-for-86) and 48.1 percent from three-point range (13-for-27).
“He’s been on a hell of a roll,” Mullin said. “He’s got more pop and more energy.”
