Justin Brownlee scored 13 points and Dwight Hardy added 11 as St. John’s cruised by Drake 82-39 Friday in the semifinals of the Great Alaska Shootout in Anchorage.

The Red Storm (3-1) will play Arizona State in the final Saturday. The Sun Devils defeated Weber State 59-58 in the other semifinal.

St. John’s ran away with it in the first half when it opened up a 45-17 gap at the break while shooting 68 percent (15 for 22) from the floor and forcing 11 turnovers. Hardy was 4 for 5 from the field in the period.

The second half was no different, as the Red Storm pushed it to 76-34 with less than four minutes left, and coasted to the finish.

New coach Steve Lavin inherited nine seniors when he took the job at St. John’s, and is trying to turn a group that has spent three years losing in the Big East into one that can contend. The results so far have been encouraging, though the competition does not really ramp up until conference play starts.

Rayvonte Rice finished with 10 points for Drake (2-2), which entered the game 305th in the nation in scoring, and 337th in field goal percentage.