St. John’s University opened their Big East schedule with a commanding 89-61 victory over DePaul on December 17, 2024, at Carnesecca Arena in Queens, New York.
Key Performers:
• St. John’s Red Storm:
• RJ Luis Jr.: Led the team with 19 points off the bench, shooting 7-for-11 in 21 minutes.
• Kadary Richmond: Contributed 18 points and seven rebounds, with 12 points in the second half.
• Simeon Wilcher: Added 16 points.
• Zuby Ejiofor: Recorded 12 points and seven rebounds.
• DePaul Blue Demons:
• Layden Blocker: Scored a team-high 17 points.
• Conor Enright: Added 12 points.
• Jacob Meyer and Isaiah Rivera: Struggled offensively, combining for eight points on 2-of-14 shooting.
Team Statistics:
• St. John’s:
• Shot 55.2% from the field.
• Dominated the paint with 56 points.
• Outrebounded DePaul 39-25
• Scored 18 fast-break points and 17 second-chance points.
• DePaul:
• Shot 39.2% from the field, including 6-of-20 from beyond the arc.
• Committed turnovers leading to 27 St. John’s points.
Game Highlights:
St. John’s established control early, leading 40-29 at halftime. They intensified their performance in the second half, embarking on an 11-0 run to extend the lead to 57-33. The Red Storm’s defense effectively contained DePaul’s offense, preventing any significant comeback.
Quotes:
• Rick Pitino, Head Coach of St. John’s: “I think we’re more than ready. I think we’re playing really good offensive basketball.”
• N.J. Benson, DePaul Player (prior to the game): “I’ve learned that it doesn’t really matter who’s playing. Coach always says that anybody can play.”
This victory marks St. John’s fourth consecutive win, improving their season record to 9-2 (1-0 Big East). Conversely, DePaul’s conference losing streak extends to 34 games, with their season record now at 8-3 (0-2 Big East).
