NEW YORK — In an exciting matchup on Wednesday night, Zuby Ejiofor contributed six of his 16 points during a crucial overtime period, leading No. 20 St. John’s to a thrilling 79-71 comeback victory over Xavier. After facing a significant 16-point deficit in the second half, the Red Storm rallied impressively to secure their sixth consecutive win. With this victory, St. John’s now holds a record of 17-3 and a strong 8-1 in the Big East Conference. This success marks their second season under the guidance of Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino.
With their recent resurgence, St. John’s has returned to the AP Top 25, achieving its highest ranking in ten years. The Red Storm’s impressive performance has pushed them back to the top of the conference standings, edging ahead of No. 10 Marquette by half a game. Kadary Richmond led the way with a season-best 19 points, while RJ Luis Jr. and Simeon Wilcher each contributed 16 points to the team’s cause. Richmond’s all-around game was highlighted by his seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals, all without committing a turnover during a 44-minute appearance in front of an energized crowd of 14,545 at Madison Square Garden.
For Xavier, Ryan Conwell stood out with 21 points, while Dailyn Swain added 16 points before leaving the game late due to a sprained ankle. The Musketeers, now holding a record of 12-8 and 4-5 in the Big East, were looking for their fourth consecutive win but faced tough challenges as the game progressed. St. John’s point guard Deivon Smith missed the contest for the second time in three games due to a troubling right shoulder injury, which he sustained during a January 11th win against Villanova.
In a season filled with ups and downs, the Musketeers are starting to reveal their potential after a sluggish beginning to the Big East season, living up to their preseason coaches’ poll ranking of third. As the schedule eases ahead, they aim to gain momentum moving forward. Meanwhile, St. John’s, aspiring for its first Big East regular-season title since 1992, is enjoying its best start in decades, showcasing their resilience with an 8-1 record in conference play for the first time since 1999.
A key moment in the game came when Richmond made a driving layup with just over a minute left in regulation, tying the game at 65 and sending it into overtime. St. John’s quickly seized control in the extra period, scoring the first eight points, with Ejiofor accounting for six of them. Notably, despite struggling from beyond the arc by connecting only once on 12 attempts, St. John’s maintained its perfect home record at 13-0.
Looking ahead, Xavier faces another formidable test at home against No. 19 UConn, the two-time defending national champions, on Saturday night. St. John’s, meanwhile, will visit old rival Georgetown next Tuesday night, where they previously staged a comeback from a 15-point deficit to win 63-58 at Madison Square Garden on January 14.
