NEW YORK -- While Hofstra didn't put up much of a fight against Virginia Tech in our first game of the night, Marist has decided to make things interesting in battle back and forth with St. John's.

The Johnnies are holding a 41-39 lead at the 12:30-mark, and Norm Roberts' team isn't exactly dominating a team that it should be.

After all, no Big East team should be struggling to get by a mighty (hyperbole?) MAAC foe like Marist. Yes, Jared Jordan put the Red Foxes on the map in 2006-07, but that was last year, and Matt Brady's team isn't even expected to win its conference with Siena as the favorite and Rider a potential contender.

Maybe it's the curse of James Dolan and the Knicks that is getting to St. John's. After all, the Johnnies do play nearly half of their Big East games in this building.