In a thrilling matchup on Saturday night, RJ Luis Jr. delivered an impressive performance, scoring 30 points and securing 10 rebounds, which propelled St. John’s to an 80-68 victory over Villanova.
Aaron Scott and Deivon Smith contributed significantly to the Red Storm’s win, each adding 12 points to the scoreboard, as St. John’s improved their season record to 14-3 and continued their strong performance with a 5-1 mark in the Big East Conference.
On the other side, Wooga Poplar was the standout player for the Wildcats, pouring in 22 points, while Eric Dixon and Jhamir Brickus added 18 and 13 points, respectively, with Brickus also grabbing six rebounds.
St. John’s led at halftime, holding a 36-31 advantage, with Smith being the team’s top scorer during the first half with his 12 points. In the second half, St. John’s seized the momentum by taking the lead with just over four minutes remaining, and they maintained their advantage to secure the win. Luis was instrumental in this effort, tallying 23 points in the final half, helping his team to pull away decisively and clinch the victory.