Andre Drummond collected 16 points and 11 rebounds as No. 9 Connecticut coasted to an 83-69 victory over St. John’s in its Big East home opener on Saturday.

Shabazz Napier added 17 points and nine assists and Jeremy Lamb scored 15 points for the Huskies (12-1, 2-0 Big East), who were playing the second of three straight games without coach Jim Calhoun due to suspension.

After struggling in a win at South Florida without Calhoun earlier in the week, Connecticut had much less trouble against the Red Storm. The Huskies pounded the ball inside to Drummond and used their size advantage to build up a 29-24 edge on the glass.

St. John’s, which blew out Providence, 91-67, in its conference opener, could not carry the momentum. Moe Harkness set a Big East rookie record with 32 points in his conference debut against the Friars but slumped to 16 against Connecticut.

The Huskies used a 16-5 run to push the lead to as much as 70-47 with 7:16 left.

The Red Storm had one more run in them, cutting it to 72-61 with 2:49 left, but Connecticut freshman Ryan Boatright scored five straight points to put it away.

D’Angelo Harrison scored 17 points to lead St. John’s (7-5, 1-1).