CHICAGO — Kadary Richmond delivered an impressive performance with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Deivon Smith contributed 18 points, helping No. 10 St. John’s achieve a commanding 82-58 victory over DePaul on Wednesday night.

Sadiku Ibine Ayo also stood out, recording a personal-best 15 points, and Zuby Ejiofor added 13 points along with nine rebounds. This victory marked the Red Storm’s 12th win in their last 13 games, showcasing their strong form.

Under the guidance of Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, St. John’s (23-4, 14-2) has matched its best Big East win total since the 1998-99 season, when the team achieved a 14-4 record in conference play. They now hold a 2.5-game lead over No. 16 Marquette and Creighton.

DePaul, on the other hand, struggled as Isaiah Rivera led the Blue Demons with 16 points. The team, currently at the bottom of the standings (11-16, 2-14), has lost seven of their last eight games, indicating a challenging period for the program.

**Key Takeaways**
For St. John’s, the team secured a convincing win despite being without star player RJ Luis Jr., who missed the game due to a pulled groin. On the side of DePaul, Chris Holtmann faces a significant challenge in revamping a once-respected basketball program, and this defeat illustrates the extent of the work that lies ahead.

**Crucial Moment**
The game was tied at 20 before Ayo and Simeon Wilcher each hit back-to-back three-pointers. The Red Storm capitalized on this momentum, launching on an 11-point scoring streak as part of a larger 16-2 run. Even as DePaul’s Rivera responded with a three-pointer, Ayo countered immediately, and Smith sealed a tip-in just 23 seconds before the final buzzer, further widening the gap.

**Notable Statistic**
St. John’s excelled from beyond the arc, making a total of nine three-pointers, with Smith and Ayo each contributing three to the tally.

**Looking Ahead**
Next, St. John’s will aim to secure their second victory over UConn in just over two weeks as they host the Huskies on Sunday. Meanwhile, DePaul will seek to regain momentum in their home game against Butler on Saturday.