PITTSBURGH — They have held together through more distraction and adversity than most first-year players should be asked to handle.
They have had each other’s back when the numbers dwindled and the team got younger and less experienced and the minutes increased.
They have grown up before our very eyes, never stepping out of line or complaining or using their youth or lack of depth as excuse.
But last night, in the 30th game of the season, in a building in which it has never won, the St. John’s basketball team finally showed its youth. After an 89-69 blowout loss to Pitt, record-setting freshman D’Angelo Harrison and injured star forward Moe Harkless declined to be interviewed postgame for the first time this season.
Red Storm’s freshman scoring leader." title="THE BAD AND THE GOOD: Freshman D’Angelo Harrison shoots over Malcolm Gilbert during St. John’s 89-69 loss to Pittsburgh last night. Despite the loss, Harrison passed Erick Barkley as the Red Storm’s freshman scoring leader." width="300" height="300" src="/rw/nypost/2012/03/01/sports/web_photos/dangelo_harrison--300x300.jpg" />
AP
THE BAD AND THE GOOD: Freshman D’Angelo Harrison shoots over Malcolm Gilbert during St. John’s 89-69 loss to Pittsburgh last night. Despite the loss, Harrison passed Erick Barkley as the Red Storm’s freshman scoring leader.
Harrison was upset by a story in The Post that chronicled his close relationship with his brother, Dre, who is incarcerated in Texas. Harkless, who suffered a mild sprain of his right ankle in the first half, also was upset by the story.
The Red Storm (13-17, 6-11 in the Big East), who saw their three-game win streak shattered by a Pitt team (16-14, 5-12) that had lost five straight, have three days to rally for Saturday night’s regular-season finale at Rutgers, in another building that has been problematic.
Harrison scored a game-high 21 points to move past Erick Barkley as the Red Storm’s freshman scoring leader. He now has 515 points, easily breaking Barkley’s mark of 500 set in 1989-90.
“It’s a tremendous accomplishment to set a new freshman scoring record, but I’d rather get a win for our team every night,’’ Harrison said in a statement. “Any guy on our team is capable of getting a record like that.
“We’re young, but we know our job is far from over and our journey is just beginning,’’ Harrison added . “So I hope this leads to more wins for St. John’s and a sophomore scoring record next year.’’
This St. John’s team, if it remains intact, could be a national force next season. The only player who faces a decision on whether to return to college or turn pro is Harkless. How last night’s injury might affect the decision is anyone’s guess.
He rolled his right ankle with 14:36 left and limped to the bench. He returned with 10:07 left and started the second half but sat the final 11:37. He played a season-low 22 minutes, scoring a season-low four points. He was not favoring the leg as he walked from the locker room to the team bus.
Harrison and Harkless have been a remarkable pair.
Questions about Harkless’s toughness and ability to consistently play hard have been answered. So have questions about Harrison’s volatile persona. He has just one technical foul this season.
They hung tough when Nurideen Lindsey transferred and Malik Stith quit. They adjusted when coach Steve Lavin was unable to return to the bench as he recovers from prostate cancer surgery. They have played more than 35 minutes per game.
But now they’re hurting emotionally and physically. That’s how fleeting a season can be.
lenn.robbins@nypost.com
Erick Barkley, D’Angelo Harrison, Moe Harkless, Red Storm, Harrison, Harkless
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