NEW YORK (AP) — In a thrilling showdown at Madison Square Garden, No. 22 St. John’s demonstrated that they are a serious contender against No. 3 University in the Big East this season. Led by Zuby Ejiofor’s standout effort of 21 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, the Red Storm triumphed 81-72 over the Huskies on Friday night, snapping their impressive 18-game winning streak.
Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino praised his team’s composure throughout the game, emphasizing the critical plays that sealed their victory. In this first matchup of the year between the Big East’s top two squads, Dillon Mitchell contributed 15 points and Bryce Hopkins added 14, pushing St. John’s to an 18-5 record overall and 11-1 in the conference. Their victory narrowed the Huskies’ lead in the standings, coming within half a game of the top spot. With this win, Pitino matched Roy Williams’ record for the third most Division I wins at 903.
After the game, an exhilarated Ejiofor celebrated with the enthusiastic student fans at St. John’s University. Besides his scoring and playmaking, the senior forward, who was the Big East preseason player of the year, also made a significant defensive impact with three blocks and two steals. Ejiofor reflected on the energized atmosphere in MSG, highlighting the great crowd support and the electrifying environment.
For the Huskies, Cyrus Demarie Jr. led with 18 points, seven rebounds, and five assists but struggled with ball control, committing nine of the team’s 15 turnovers. Coach Dan Hurley acknowledged the toughness of the challenge and expressed frustration with their turnover issues. With a packed arena of 19,812 fervent fans supporting both sides, Connecticut’s Alex Karaban put up 17 points, though the crowd favored the Red Storm.
Pitino marveled at the electric setting, describing Madison Square Garden as the best he had ever experienced and noting the impressive turnout. Hurley agreed that it felt like a true road game due to the dominance of St. John’s supporters. From the free-throw line, St. John’s shot a strong 22-of-31, whereas the Huskies only managed 5-of-12.
Despite UW’s high shooting percentages—55 percent overall and 47 percent from three-point range—they faltered defensively in the second half and were caught off guard by St. John’s bench play. The Red Storm executed a decisive 10-0 run, capped by a Hopkins three-pointer, extending their lead to 55-45 with 13 minutes left. Although UConn rallied to cut the deficit to 64-63, St. John’s maintained a slim edge, with clutch plays from Dylan Darling and Ejiofor securing the victory.
Pitino emphasized to his players the importance of embracing risk and not fearing mistakes. Ejiofor described the game as both passionate and meaningful, crediting their outstanding preparation and ability to stay focused throughout all 40 minutes. This marked the first meeting in the AP Top 25 at the Garden between these two programs since St. John’s won the Big East Tournament championship in 2000.
The teams will face off again on February 25 in Hartford, Connecticut. Pitino expressed excitement for the celebrations that evening but stressed the necessity of continuous improvement, praising the strong frontcourt performance from Hopkins, Mitchell, and Ejiofor.
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Fan Take:
This thrilling upset at one of college basketball’s most iconic venues signals a shift in Big East power dynamics, reviving interest in the conference. For basketball fans, it’s a reminder that intense competition and unexpected victories are what keep the sport exciting and unpredictable.
