Sampson, Harrison lead St. John's to 53-52 win over No. 14 Cincinnati

St. John's forward Jakarr Sampson (14) drives against Cincinnati forward Titus Rubles in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, in Cincinnati. Sampson led St. John's to a 53-52 win with 16 points. (AP Photo/Al Behrman) (The Associated Press)

Cincinnati guard Cashmere Wright (1) falls on St. John's guard D'Angelo Harrison in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, in Cincinnati. St. John's won 53-52. (AP Photo/Al Behrman) (The Associated Press)

CINCINNATI – JaKarr Sampson scored 16 points and D'Angelo Harrison added 15 and St. John's beat No. 14 Cincinnati 53-52 on Saturday, yet another close game between the teams.

Cashmere Wright hit two 3-pointers in an 8-0 run that pulled Cincinnati within one with 2:32 left in the game. Wright's layup with 53 seconds to play gave the Bearcats a 52-51 lead.

Harrison, coming off a career-high 36 points in a loss to Villanova this week, hit a jumper with 29 seconds left to regain the lead for St. John's.

Cincinnati's Titus Rubles, who finished with 14 points, squared up with 6 seconds left but missed the jumper. St. John's pulled down the rebound which forced Cincinnati to foul with 3 seconds left.

Entering Saturday's game, four of the past five games in the series had been decided by exactly two points.