St. John’s University secured a significant 82-72 victory over Xavier University on Tuesday night at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati. This win improved the Red Storm’s record to 13-3 overall and 4-1 in Big East play, marking their eighth victory in the past nine games.
Key Performers:
• Zuby Ejiofor: The forward led St. John’s with 18 points and 12 rebounds, including nine offensive boards, showcasing his dominance in the paint.
• RJ Luis Jr.: Contributed significantly with 18 points and 10 rebounds, achieving a double-double alongside Ejiofor.
• Simeon Wilcher: Provided a spark off the bench, scoring 15 points on 7-of-15 shooting, marking his eighth double-figure outing of the season.
• Kadary Richmond and Aaron Scott: Both added 12 points each, with Richmond dishing out six assists and Scott grabbing eight rebounds.
Team Statistics:
• Rebounding: St. John’s dominated the glass with a 46-27 advantage, including 18 offensive rebounds that led to 22 second-chance points.
• Points in the Paint: The Red Storm outscored the Musketeers 54-30 in the paint, emphasizing their interior strength.
• Shooting: Despite shooting just 2-for-16 (12.5%) from beyond the arc, St. John’s compensated with aggressive play inside and efficient free-throw shooting, going 12-for-13 (92.3%) from the line.
Quotes:
• Coach Rick Pitino: “For 37 minutes tonight, that’s the best basketball we played this season. Kadary [Richmond] set the tempo by being overly aggressive, going to the basket and making plays.”
• Simeon Wilcher: “For me, it was just about having faith and trust in everybody that surrounded me. They always make sure that I keep my head up regardless of how I play.”
• Kadary Richmond: “We’re playing winning basketball. Regardless of if I’m scoring, guys are rebounding and just making sure I make the right play.”
Game Flow:
St. John’s established an early lead, going up 19-8 within the first eight minutes. Xavier managed to cut the deficit to four by halftime, trailing 41-37. However, the Red Storm opened the second half with increased intensity, extending their lead to as much as 18 points. Xavier’s attempts to rally were thwarted by St. John’s resilient defense and control of the boards.
Xavier’s Performance:
• Zach Freemantle: Led the Musketeers with 22 points and two blocks, striving to keep his team competitive.
• Dailyn Swain: Added 14 points and eight rebounds, contributing to Xavier’s efforts.
• Dayvion McKnight: Chipped in with 11 points and a game-high eight assists, playing a pivotal role in the backcourt.
Despite these individual performances, Xavier struggled with shooting efficiency, hitting only 36.7% from the field and 22.2% from three-point range. The Musketeers also faced challenges on the boards, being outrebounded 46-27 which contributed to their fifth loss in six games.
St. John’s will look to maintain their momentum as they prepare to host Villanova at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.
