Dwight Hardy led the way with 20 points and D.J. Kennedy finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds as St. John’s took down West Virginia, 81-71, in Morgantown Wednesday in the Big East opener for both schools.

Justin Brownlee added 17 points for the Red Storm, who shot 61 percent from the floor.

St. John’s (8-3, 1-0 Big East) took a 34-28 lead into the break and stretched it to as much as 69-55 on Hardy’s jumper with 2:58 left. Jonnie West hit two 3-pointers in a row for the Mountaineers and Darryl Bryant hit two free throws with 1:23 remaining to cut it to 73-66, but Hardy hit eight straight free throws to keep the Red Storm clear.

The victory was critical for a St. John’s team that hopes to have success in the Big East this season, as it continues at Providence this weekend before a five-game stretch during which it faces No. 9 Georgetown, No. 15 Notre Dame twice, No. 5 Syracuse and No. 20 Louisville. The Red Storm close January with a visit from No. 1 Duke.

West Virginia (8-3, 0-1) goes on the road for the next three, though Marquette and DePaul are not what they have been in the past.