NEW YORK — Junior forward Zuby Ejiofor had an extraordinary performance on Friday night when No. 6 St. John’s cruised to a significant 79-63 triumph over No. 25 Marquette, paving their way to the conference championship game for the first time in 25 years. In a remarkable display, Ejiofor scored a career-high 33 points, which also set a record for the Big East Tournament in his school’s history.
St. John’s coach Rick Pitino praised Ejiofor, saying, “The big dog over here just was tremendous… He showed unbelievable leadership every timeout.” Ejiofor was named the Big East Most Improved Player this season. He had a quieter game the previous night with only four points in St. John’s dominant quarterfinal victory against Butler, but the team didn’t require his full potential on that occasion.
Trailing by 15 points against Marquette in the semifinals, Ejiofor took control. The Texas native from Kansas displayed determination, going 11 for 15 from the field, and scoring through various dynamic post moves and commanding dunks. Additionally, Ejiofor was accurate at the foul line, converting 11 of 12 attempts and contributing nine rebounds and three assists over 38 minutes.
His performance helped St. John’s (29-4) regain control and eventually lead comfortably. Ejiofor scored six of their first nine points in the second half and facilitated the team’s surge, including 11 consecutive points, widening the lead significantly by 10 points during the final phases of the game.
Teammate Aaron Scott spoke highly of the pivotal contribution Ejiofor provides, stating, “He keeps us going all the time… Stays sane, and that’s what we need each and every game.” As Ejiofor left the court, he was met with cheers from the sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden, echoing appreciation for his outstanding performance.
Ejiofor, who was named to the first-team All-Big East, expressed his gratitude for the support from both his coaching staff and teammates, attributing his aggressive approach to their encouragement. His performance was notably the highest scoring by any player in a Big East semifinal since 2011. He followed in the footsteps of former St. John’s standout Walter Berry, being the first player since 1986 to score over 30 points and secure nine rebounds in a postseason game.
Ejiofor previously set a personal record with 28 points in a matchup against Kansas State last December. His impact has been particularly significant against Marquette this season, including a memorable buzzer-beater in an overtime victory in Milwaukee.
Golden Eagles coach Shaka Smart acknowledged Ejiofor’s dominance, describing him as the best player on the court that day. As St. John’s claims its first outright Big East regular-season title in decades, Steve’s team looks to claim their fourth Big East Tournament title. Their last championship win in this tournament was in 2000.
Since moving from Kansas to St. John’s after minimal playtime as a freshman, Ejiofor has evolved into a core player. He contributed as an enthusiastic backup in the previous season, but this year, he emerged as a pivotal force in St. John’s revival under Coach Pitino. The coach described Ejiofor as an invaluable asset to the team, highlighting his positive attitude and selflessness, saying, “We’re lucky to have him. He’s our captain.”
