Storm Pounds City Rival Fordham

December 19, 1998 / 9:56 PM EST / AP

Tyrone Grant scored 16 points and No. 15 St. John's beat Fordham 88-57 Saturday night, the Red Storm's sixth straight victory, all by at least 19 points.

St. John's (9-2), which has lost only to No. 6 Stanford and No. 8 Purdue, had another strong defensive performance, holding the Rams (4-3) to 36 percent shooting (21-of-58) and taking command with a 16-3 run over the final six minutes of the first half.

Fordham, which had won three straight, went 1-for-10 from the field, had three turnovers and was charged with a technical foul over the closing minutes of the half as St. John's took a 42-23 lead.

The Red Storm, who have not allowed an opponent to reach 70 points in the streak, opened the second half with a 21-9 run to take a 63-32 lead on a short jumper by Artest with 13:18 to play.

Ron Artest had 15 points, Lavor Postell added 13 and Erick Barkley had 12 for St. John's, which has won four straight games and 27 of the last 28 in the series between the New York City rivals.

Bevon Robin led the Rams with 20 points.

Fordham was within 26-20 with 6:22 left in the first half when the Red Storm turned up the defensive intensity. The only points the Rams had in the stretch were a 3-pointer by Robin and three of their turnovers led directly to St. John's points, two on a steal and breakaway dunk by Artest with 3:21 left.

St. John's took advantage of a technical foul called on Fordham coach Nick Marcarchuk for a six-point play that made it 42-23 with 28 seconds left in the half.

Reggie Jessie made two free throws after he was fouled by Jason Harris and Barkley made one of two free throws after the technical was called. Jessie hit a 3-pointer on the ensuing possesion for the halftime margin.