In an electrifying matchup in Milwaukee, Zuby Ejiofor scored a decisive shot at the buzzer, propelling St. John’s to a thrilling 86-84 overtime win against Marquette. This victory marked their sixth consecutive win. Kadary Richmond also made history for St. John’s by recording the first triple-double for the program in over two decades. The Red Storm, currently ranked sixth, displayed resilience against No. 20 Marquette to improve their remarkable season.
St. John’s now boasts a 27-4 overall record and an 18-2 mark in the Big East conference, equaling a school record for regular-season victories. The last time they reached such heights in the regular season was during the 1985-86 campaign, which concluded with a 31-5 record. Having secured their first outright Big East regular-season championship since 1985 a week earlier, St. John’s continues to strengthen its illustrious history.
The Red Storm’s victory came in dramatic fashion. With just 26.4 seconds left in regulation, Marquette’s Kam Jones made a game-tying layup. In response, St. John’s RJ Luis Jr. attempted a three-pointer but missed. Marquette’s Chase Ross initially snagged the rebound, but Richmond managed to strip the ball, leading it to Simeon Wilcher. Wilcher quickly relayed it to Ejiofor, who expertly sank a shot from inside the paint right before time expired.
Luis turned in an outstanding performance with 28 points and 11 rebounds, accompanied by Ejiofor’s 17 points and 12 rebounds. Meanwhile, Richmond achieved his triple-double with 10 points, 11 assists, and 12 rebounds. This feat marks the first triple-double for St. John’s since Ron Artest’s stellar play against Seton Hall in 1999.
Marquette’s Jones was a standout with 32 points, with David Joplin contributing 21 points. However, the Golden Eagles fell short and are now 22-9 overall with a 13-7 record in conference action. With the postseason approaching, Marquette’s recent performance has been inconsistent, as they have won only four of their last ten games since early February.
The pivotal point came when Luis forced the game into overtime by scoring from the paint in the dwindling seconds of regulation. Marquette had an opportunity to seize victory, but Ben Gold missed his final attempt. Throughout the game, St. John’s held a slight edge on the boards, outrebounding Marquette 46-42.
Looking ahead, both St. John’s and Marquette are set to advance directly into the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament. They will take the court on Thursday in New York, where the Red Storm aims to maintain their impressive form.
