Ejiofor powers No. 6 St. John's past No. 25 Marquette 79-63 into 1st Big East final since 2000
NEW YORK (AP) — Zuby Ejiofor scored a career-high 33 points, a St. John's record in the Big East Tournament, and the sixth-ranked Red Storm pulled away from No. 25 Marquette 79-63 on Friday night to reach the conference championship game for the first time in 25 years.
Big East Player of the Year RJ Luis Jr. added 13 points and Ejiofor grabbed nine rebounds as the top-seeded Red Storm (29-4) wiped out an early 15-point deficit. They advanced to play second-seeded Creighton or No. 3 seed UConn on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.
Kadary Richmond had 12 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for St. John's, which has won eight straight — and 18 of 19 since the new year. In the program's second season under 72-year-old Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, the Johnnies are one win from their fourth Big East Tournament title and first since 2000.
Kam Jones had 24 points for the fifth-seeded Golden Eagles (23-10), who lost all three matchups with the Red Storm this season and fell to 1-6 against them at the Big East Tournament.
TakeawaysMarquette: A lack of strength down low was a problem against Ejiofor and St. John’s all season, but the Golden Eagles will be happy to face someone outside the Big East when they enter the NCAA Tournament.
St. John’s: Making a strong bid for a No. 2 seed in the NCAAs, the Red Storm improved to 20-0 at home, including 11-0 at MSG — the program’s most wins at The Garden since compiling 13 in 1958-59. The last time the Johnnies finished unbeaten at home was the 1931-32 season.
Key momentSt. John’s trailed by three early in the second half before Aaron Scott drained a 3-pointer, and a foul on Chase Ross was upgraded to a flagrant 1 following a replay review. That led to two free throws by Ejiofor at the start of a 16-3 spurt that gave the Red Storm a 10-point lead with 14 minutes left. Scott finished with 11 points.
Key statMarquette opened 5 for 10 on 3-pointers, then missed 12 straight. By the time David Joplin ended the skid with 11:42 left, the Golden Eagles had gone from up 10 to down 10 before he connected.
Up nextSt. John’s split two regular-season games with Creighton, and swept UConn for the first time in 25 years.
___
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 all season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
-
Ejiofor powers No. 6 St. John’s past No. 25 Marquette 79-63 into 1st Big East final since 2000
Zuby Ejiofor scored a career-high 33 points, a St. John’s record in the Big East Tournament, and the sixth-ranked Red Storm pulled away from No. 25 Marquette 79-63 on Friday night to reach the ...Yahoo Sports - 4h -
Zuby Ejiofor’s career-best game pushes St. John’s past Marquette and into Big East Tournament final
NEW YORK — For the first time in a quarter-century, St. John’s is headed to the Big East Tournament final. It took an all-time performance from Zuby Ejiofor to get there. Top-seeded St. John’s ...Yahoo Sports - 7h -
Zuby Ejiofor much more than just most improved in record-setting performance for No. 6 St. John's
Maybe most improved didn't really do Zuby Ejiofor justice. The junior forward delivered an overpowering performance Friday night for No. 6 St. John's, scoring a career-best 33 points — a school ...Yahoo Sports - 6h -
Zuby Ejiofor sinks OT buzzer-beater to lead No. 6 St. John's over No. 20 Marquette
The Red Storm will enter the Big East tournament as the top seed for the first time since 1986.Yahoo Sports - 6d -
St. John's vs. Marquette odds, prediction: 2025 Big East Tournament semifinal picks, bets from proven model
SportsLine's model just revealed its college basketball picks for the Marquette Golden Eagles vs. St. John's Red Storm in the Big East Tournament semifinals on Friday nightCBS Sports - 12h -
Big East Tournament - Marquette vs. St. John's Predictions: Odds, Expert Picks, Betting Trends, and Stats
Marquette Golden Eagles vs. St. John's Red Storm Game PreviewYahoo Sports - 17h -
Big East tournament semifinals prediction: Can Marquette beat St. John's in New York?
The Golden Eagles play the Red Storm in the Big East tournament semifinals on Friday. Here's our prediction for that game.Yahoo Sports - 22h -
Jones scores 28 as No. 25 Marquette rallies past Xavier 89-87 in Big East quarterfinal
Kam Jones scored 28 points and No. 25 Marquette rallied past Xavier 89-87 on Thursday in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Butler vs. St. John's prediction, odds, time: 2025 Big East Tournament quarterfinal picks from proven model
SportsLine's model simulated Butler Bulldogs vs. St. John's Red Storm in the 2025 Big East Conference Tournament quarterfinal matchup on Thursday 10,000 timesCBS Sports - 1d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
T-Pain hilariously vows to turn New York Giants franchise around
The New York Giants' newly signed OL James Hudson has an uncanny resemblance to T-Pain, who capitalized on their similarities with a hilarious tweet.Yahoo Sports - 22m -
F1 Australian GP LIVE: Qualifying result as Lando Norris snatches pole and Lewis Hamilton falters
Follow reaction from qualifying in Melbourne as Norris claims pole ahead of teammate Oscar PiastriYahoo Sports - 28m -
Rangers consider St Mirren's Olusanya - gossip
Rangers linked with St Mirren forward soon to be out of contract, as Everton are again credited with interest in Ibrox striker...Yahoo Sports - 29m -
Virgil van Dijk on family life, Arne Slot and uncertain Liverpool future
Interview: The Reds’ captain, whose Anfield future is unclear, opens up ahead of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final with NewcastleYahoo Sports - 34m -
NFL insider: 'Zero chance' Cam Ward falls to No. 3 in 2025 NFL draft
One NFL insider says there is "zero chance" QB Cam Ward falls to the New York Giants at No. 3 overall in the 2025 NFL draft.Yahoo Sports - 36m
More in Sports
-
T-Pain hilariously vows to turn New York Giants franchise around
The New York Giants' newly signed OL James Hudson has an uncanny resemblance to T-Pain, who capitalized on their similarities with a hilarious tweet.Yahoo Sports - 22m -
F1 Australian GP LIVE: Qualifying result as Lando Norris snatches pole and Lewis Hamilton falters
Follow reaction from qualifying in Melbourne as Norris claims pole ahead of teammate Oscar PiastriYahoo Sports - 28m -
Rangers consider St Mirren's Olusanya - gossip
Rangers linked with St Mirren forward soon to be out of contract, as Everton are again credited with interest in Ibrox striker...Yahoo Sports - 29m -
Virgil van Dijk on family life, Arne Slot and uncertain Liverpool future
Interview: The Reds’ captain, whose Anfield future is unclear, opens up ahead of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final with NewcastleYahoo Sports - 34m -
NFL insider: 'Zero chance' Cam Ward falls to No. 3 in 2025 NFL draft
One NFL insider says there is "zero chance" QB Cam Ward falls to the New York Giants at No. 3 overall in the 2025 NFL draft.Yahoo Sports - 36m