Zuby Ejiofor delivered a standout performance with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists as No. 22 St. John’s stunned third-ranked UConn with an 81-72 victory on Friday night, effectively ending the Huskies’ impressive 18-game winning streak.
In this highly anticipated Big East matchup featuring the conference’s top two teams, Dillon Mitchell contributed 15 points while Bryce Hopkins added 14 for the Red Storm (18-5, 11-1), who have now secured nine consecutive victories and 14 wins in their last 16 games. This triumph has propelled St. John’s to within a half-game of first-place UConn (22-2, 12-1) in the conference standings.
This win also marked a significant milestone for Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, who now shares third place in Division I history with Roy Williams for career wins, each amassing 903 victories.
For UConn, Silas Demary Jr. scored 18 points, while also providing seven rebounds and five assists, despite facing difficulties with ball control, committing nine of the team’s 15 turnovers. Alex Karaban added 17 points in a high-energy atmosphere at Madison Square Garden, where the crowd overwhelmingly supported the Johnnies.
St. John’s showcased their prowess at the free-throw line, converting 22 of 31 attempts, whereas UConn struggled, hitting just 5 of 12. The two teams are set to face off again on February 25 in Hartford, Connecticut.
UConn’s only other defeat this season occurred on November 19, when they fell to undefeated Arizona, now ranked first in the nation.
The game was tightly contested, with six lead changes and four ties in the first half, concluding with a 39-39 tie. St. John’s gained momentum after a 10-0 run, highlighted by a three-pointer from Hopkins, establishing a 55-45 lead with 13 minutes left. While UConn managed to narrow the gap to 64-63 after Demary’s three-pointer with just over five minutes remaining, St. John’s regained control in the final moments.
Looking ahead, UConn is set to visit Butler, while St. John’s will host Xavier on Monday night, presenting an intriguing matchup as Pitino faces off against his son, Richard, who is in his first year as head coach of the Musketeers.