CINCINNATI — On Tuesday night, Zuby Ejiofor showcased a stellar performance, contributing 18 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks, leading St. John’s to an 82-72 victory over Xavier.

RJ Luis Jr. matched Ejiofor’s scoring efforts, also scoring 18 points while adding 10 rebounds for the Red Storm, who improved their record to 13-3 overall and 4-1 in the Big East Conference. Simeon Wilcher rounded out the scoring for St. John’s with 15 points, hitting 7 of 15 attempts from the field, though he struggled from beyond the arc, making just one of five attempts.

Xavier, now at 9-7 and 1-4 in the conference, was spearheaded by Zach Freemantle, who delivered a strong performance with 22 points and two blocks. Dailyn Swain contributed as well, scoring 14 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Additionally, Dayvion McKnight made his mark with 11 points, complemented by eight assists and three steals, showcasing his all-around game.

St. John’s established and maintained their lead early, pulling ahead at the 17:29 mark in the first half and never looking back. They entered halftime with a narrow 41-37 advantage, propelled by Wilcher’s 10 first-half points. In the second half, the Red Storm extended their lead significantly, going on an 8-0 run to establish a 15-point cushion at 61-46 with just over 10 minutes remaining, ultimately sealing the victory.