ESPN Men's Basketball

NEW YORK (AP) -- Anthony Mason Jr. scored 12 of his 17 points in the second half to lift St. John's to a 70-58 victory over Big East rival Cincinnati on Saturday night.

D.J. Kennedy and Justin Burrell each followed with 13 points for the Red Storm (7-6, 1-1), who led 33-22 at halftime. St. John's had lost three of four.

Deonta Vaughn, who made nine of 16 shots, had 24 points for the Bearcats (6-8, 1-1). Cincinnati had won two straight after five consecutive losses.

Vaughn's jumper gave Cincinnati a 20-19 lead at 3:53 of the first half, but Larry Wright made a pair of 3 pointers to spark a run that put St. John's in front 33-22 with 8 seconds left before the break.

A three-point play by John Williamson, who had 12 points, and a 3-pointer by Vaughn powered Cincinnati's 11-6 run that brought the Bearcats within 39-33 at 16:46 of the second half.

The Red Storm answered with a run that finished with Wright's layup at 11:28 that made it 48-34.