MILWAUKEE — In a gripping encounter, Zuby Ejiofor delivered a decisive buzzer-beater, while Kadary Richmond recorded the first triple-double for St. John’s in over two decades, propelling the sixth-ranked Red Storm to an 86-84 overtime triumph over No. 20 Marquette on Saturday. This victory marked the team’s sixth consecutive win.
The Red Storm (27-4, 18-2 Big East) equaled their program’s record for regular-season victories, last achieved in the 1985-86 season when they finished 31-5. St. John’s had already secured their first outright Big East regular-season title since 1985 a week prior.
In the dramatic final moments, Marquette’s Kam Jones brought the game into a tie with a driving layup with 26.4 seconds remaining. Following this, RJ Luis Jr. missed a three-point attempt for St. John’s. Though Marquette’s Chase Ross initially grabbed the rebound, Richmond dislodged it, allowing Simeon Wilcher to gain possession.
Wilcher quickly passed the ball to Ejiofor, who successfully scored just as the buzzer sounded, clinching the win. Luis contributed significantly with 28 points and 11 rebounds, while Ejiofor chipped in with 17 points and 12 boards. Richmond completed his triple-double with 10 points, 11 assists, and 12 rebounds—this being the first such achievement for St. John’s since Ron Artest’s performance against Seton Hall on Jan. 9, 1999.
For Marquette (22-9, 13-7), standout performances included Jones with 32 points and David Joplin with 21.
Takeaways:
St. John’s clinched the win absent their starting guard Deivon Smith, who was sidelined due to a shoulder injury. Marquette, conversely, heads into the postseason with a 4-6 record since February.
Key Moments:
In the closing moments of regulation, Luis forced overtime with a crucial score in the paint at 10.7 seconds remaining, while Marquette’s Ben Gold was unable to convert a potential game-winner.
Key Stat:
The Red Storm dominated the boards, outrebounding Marquette 46-42.
Up Next:
Both St. John’s and Marquette advance with byes into Thursday’s quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament in New York.
