The St. John's Prep basketball team delivered a first-round knockout from which Lynn Classical never recovered Sunday afternoon.

The visiting Rams (2-1) had no answer for the three-point barrage launched by St. John's as the Eagles drained 14 triples en route to an 88-59 victory, improving to 2-0. The Eagles landed a first-quarter hay-maker, racing out to a 32-8 lead.

"We didn't miss much and shot it very well, especially in the first quarter," said St. John's coach Sean Connolly. "We've been stressing defense and I thought our defense was very good in the first half. That's a very good team and we held them to 15 points in the first half, so I'm very happy with our defense. We really got after them and gave great help defense on their shooters."

Notre Dame-bound senior swingman Pat Connaughton and junior Mike Carbone engineered the first-quarter demolition, combining for 27 points. Connaughton (five 3-pointers) recorded his second double-double in as many outings with 30 points and 11 rebounds while Carbone (three 3-pointers) wound up with 21 points.

The pace slowed considerably in the second quarter though the Eagles still doubled up the Rams and headed off with a 47-15 lead at the break. From there it was simply a matter of maintenance. Classical showed its spunk with a 21-point third quarter that shaved 6 points off the Prep lead but would get no closer.

Steve Haladyna (two 3-pointers) joined Connaughton and Carbone in double figures for St. John's with 12 points while Freddie Shobe dropped in a pair of triples and had 9 points off the bench. Mick Grassa dropped in four from beyond the arc to lead Classical with 14 points. Keith Mance and Josh Cheever added 10 each.

With a week to prepare for Classical, the most noticeable difference between this game and the Eagles' season-opening win against Saugus was its consistent defensive pressure, Connolly said. "We also moved the ball around well and found the open man in the offensive end."

St. John's is back in action Thursday night at Salem State College when it takes on highly-regarded East Boston at 7 p.m.