St. John’s University extended its winning streak to six games with a commanding 97-76 victory over Delaware at Carnesecca Arena on Saturday.
Deivon Smith led the Red Storm (11-2) with an impressive performance, recording 20 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists.
The team showcased a balanced offense, with six players scoring in double figures:
• Zuby Ejiofor: 16 points, 7 rebounds
• RJ Luis Jr.: 16 points off the bench
• Simeon Wilcher: 12 points
• Vince Iwuchukwu: Season-high 11 points
• Kadary Richmond: 10 points, 7 assists
St. John’s shot an impressive 60.9% from the field, including 8-for-12 from beyond the arc, and dominated the paint with a 56-40 advantage in points.
Delaware’s John Camden was a standout for the Blue Hens (7-6), scoring a career-high 35 points and hitting nine three-pointers.
Despite Camden’s efforts, the rest of the team struggled from long range, combining for just 1-of-13 from beyond the arc.
St. John’s established control early, making nine consecutive shots to build a 25-12 lead within the first nine minutes.
The Red Storm maintained a comfortable margin throughout, leading 48-29 at halftime and never allowing Delaware to get closer than 18 points in the second half.
Coach Rick Pitino acknowledged the victory but emphasized the need for a complete performance: “Anytime you win, you should be pleased. But to be honest with you, I’m anything but pleased.”
St. John’s will look to carry this momentum into their upcoming Big East matchup against Creighton on New Year’s Eve.
