Hall's 26 points lead St. John's over Monmouth

No. 13 St. John’s opened its season with a 78-63 win over Monmouth, building a 16-point halftime lead after forcing turnovers and getting out in transition. Auburn transfer Keyshawn Hall starred in his debut, scoring 26 points and grabbing nine rebounds after making his first six shots; Ian Jackson added 15 points, 13 after halftime, and newcomer Quinn Ellis contributed eight points, seven assists and five steals. The Red Storm had trouble executing in the half court after the break, but Jackson’s back-to-back 3-pointers helped restore a comfortable margin. St. John’s shot about 42% overall and 6-for-20 from 3-point range, leaving room for improvement despite the strong opening performance.