March 27, 1989

Men's Basketball

St. John's - 76 UAB - 65

Twenty years ago today, St. John's beat Alabama Birmingham 76-65 in the semifinals of the National Invitation Tournament at Madison Square Garden. Starting forwards Jayson Williams and Malik Sealy led the way with 17 points each, as the Redmen reached their eighth championship game.

St. John's (19-13) roared to a 23-6 lead before settling for a 32-22 halftime advantage. ''I think we played some of the best basketball we have played all season during the first 12 or 13 minutes,'' said coach Lou Carnesecca. ''There were a lot of fine performances. We didn't shoot the ball that well but our defense carried us.''

"Playing in the Garden helped," said Sealy, the 6-8 freshman from the Bronx. "Our adrenaline was flowing from the start. We were much more hungry than them."

The Blazers (21-12) would get no closer than five points in the second half as St. John's sealed the game from the free throw line. ''They were aggressive and they beat us badly on the boards,'' said UAB coach Gene Bartow, whose team was outrebounded 46-32. ''It wasn't a masterpiece.''

''This is a young team, and each game we play can only help us for next year,'' Williams said. ''This is not the N.C.A.A., but I'd be very satisfied with winning the N.I.T. Our intensity level is way up right now.''

St. John's would move on to face St. Louis (27-9) in the championship game.

SJU-Alabama Birmingham Boxscore