Recap: DePaul vs. St Johns

Rosemont, IL (Sports Network) - Jamal Branch scored a career-high 18 points and Sir'Dominic Pointer had a double-double as the St. John's Red Storm held off the DePaul Blue Demons, 71-62, in Big East conference action at Allstate Arena.

Pointer recorded 14 points and 11 rebounds and D'Angelo Harrison scored 15 points to go with eight boards for St. John's (11-7, 3-3 Big East) which has won consecutive games after a two-game slide.

Jamee Crockett had a game-high 19 points for DePaul (1-08, 1-4) and Cleveland Melvin scored 16 points as well. Brandon Young brought in 10 rebounds but had just six points on 2-of-11 shooting while turning the ball over seven times. The Blue Demons have lost five of their last six.

After a tightly contested first half St. John's led 35-33 by netting 46.9 percent of its shots from the field while DePaul connected on 40.5 percent. The Blue Demons managed to knock down just 1-of-10 shots from beyond the arc while the Red Storm missed its only shot from distance.

In the second half the Red Storm would lead by as many as 17 points and despite a late rally held on for the win. The Blue Demons shot just 28.6 percent in the final period while St. John's was a superior 51.9 percent.

St. John's outscored DePaul 44-28 on points in the paint and 24-10 in points off turnovers.