With the Crimson leading Tennessee Tech by two points late in the consolation game, James committed what at the time appeared to be two crucial turnovers.
The first turnover occurred with 2:32 remaining. The ball slipped out of his hands. The other happened with just 1:16 remaining and Harvard leading, 84-82.
When your freshman star turns the ball over twice with a minute to play, do you yank him? Not if you are Harvard Coach Peter Roby.
"That would have been the worst thing to do," Roby said.
And James rewarded Roby's faith in him. With both the shot clock and the game clock winding down, James drove left but missed a 10-ft. jumper. However, he stepped in, grabbed the rebound and put in a short jumper over three Golden Eagle players.
So the St. John's debacle is over and the Crimson is sitting at .500.
Can James joke about the St. John's game yet?
"I don't think St. John's is something to joke about," James said. "Maybe when I'm 65, I can laugh with my grandchildren about it."