NEW YORK — St. John’s, ranked 12th in the nation, claimed victory over the 11th-ranked Marquette in a tightly contested matchup on Tuesday night, winning 70-64 and solidifying their position at the top of the Big East standings.
Kadary Richmond was instrumental in the win, contributing 18 points, along with 11 rebounds and eight assists. RJ Luis Jr. also had a standout performance, with 17 points and 11 boards. Additionally, Zuby Ejiofor added 13 points and 13 rebounds, bolstering St. John’s impressive home record to 15-0 at the iconic Madison Square Garden, which saw an energized crowd of 16,521 in attendance, including New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
For the Golden Eagles, Chase Ross scored 16 points, although he struggled with his shooting, finishing 4-of-13 from the floor. Kam Jones provided crucial support, netting 13 points, with most of his contributions coming in the second half. Marquette faced challenges with foul trouble, accumulating 24 fouls and having four players finish with four fouls or more.
Luis’s performance was notable beyond scoring, as he played the entire game and was a defensive powerhouse, recording four steals and three blocks. This victory marks an impressive start for St. John’s, as they achieve their best record since the 1985-86 season and their highest ranking in 25 years.
Looking at the implications of the game, Marquette lost their second consecutive match and now stands at 3-3 after a prior six-game winning streak. For St. John’s, the victory sets a positive tone for a challenging week ahead, as they look to improve their record against ranked teams.
One pivotal moment in the game occurred in the closing moments when Ross missed a clear opportunity from beyond the arc, which could have narrowed Marquette’s deficit to two points with less than two minutes left. Richmond quickly capitalized on the momentum by assisting Aaron Scott for a dunk, extending the Red Storm’s lead to 66-59 with just 1:37 remaining.
After struggling initially at the free-throw line, where they missed 13 of their first 23 attempts, St. John’s redeemed themselves by sinking seven of their last eight free throws to secure the win. They also excelled in rebounding, dominating Marquette by a margin of 50-28 and holding them scoreless from the field for the final 5:20 of the game.
Looking ahead, Marquette is set to play against Creighton this coming Saturday as they aim to take the season series. Meanwhile, St. John’s will visit 19th-ranked UConn on Friday night, where they may face Huskies freshman Liam McNeeley, who has been recovering from a high ankle sprain sustained in early January and is expected to return to action.
