St. John’s Wins First Big East Title Since 1985

St. John’s Wins First Big East Title Since 1985 \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ St. John’s clinched its first outright Big East regular-season title since 1985, defeating Seton Hall 71-61 at Madison Square Garden. RJ Luis Jr. led the Red Storm with 21 points, while Zuby Ejiofor added 17 points and 10 rebounds in the victory. Coach Rick Pitino and the team celebrated with a trophy presentation, but opted not to cut down the nets, stating, “We’re just getting started.”

St. John’s Big East Championship: Quick Look

• St. John’s secured its first outright Big East regular-season title in 39 years with a 71-61 win over Seton Hall on Saturday.
• RJ Luis Jr. led the Red Storm with 21 points, while Zuby Ejiofor added 17 points and 10 rebounds.
• The Red Storm remained undefeated at home (18-0), playing in front of their third straight sellout crowd at Madison Square Garden.
• Coach Rick Pitino, wearing his signature white suit, celebrated the milestone but opted not to cut down the nets, saying, “We’re just getting started.”
• Seton Hall (7-22, 2-16 Big East) fought hard but suffered its worst season since 1982-83.
• St. John’s will now turn its focus to the postseason, facing Marquette on March 8 before the Big East Tournament.

Deep Look

The Moment St. John’s Fans Have Been Waiting For

It had been nearly four decades since St. John’s last won the Big East regular-season championship outright. That long-awaited moment finally arrived on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, as the No. 7 Red Storm (26-4, 17-2 Big East) defeated Seton Hall 71-61 to claim the conference title in front of a raucous home crowd.

The victory capped off an impressive season under head coach Rick Pitino, who has revitalized the program since taking over. St. John’s finished a perfect 18-0 at home, creating one of the best home-court advantages in the country.

The team opted not to cut down the nets after the game, but that didn’t stop the celebration. Confetti fell from the rafters, a montage of season highlights played on the big screen, and the team received the championship trophy. Pitino, addressing the crowd, delivered a simple but confident message:

“We’re just getting started.”

St. John’s Overcomes Slow Start to Pull Away Late

Despite being heavy favorites, St. John’s struggled for much of the game, allowing Seton Hall to stay within striking distance.

• The Red Storm led by just four at halftime, failing to create separation early.
• Seton Hall cut the deficit to one point six times in the second half, refusing to go away.
• The turning point came with 6:43 remaining, when RJ Luis Jr. threw down a thunderous one-handed dunk off a Seton Hall turnover, igniting the crowd and extending the lead to 59-52.

From that point on, St. John’s controlled the game, never letting Seton Hall mount another serious comeback attempt.

“We had to grind it out,” Pitino said postgame. “This is what championship teams do—they find ways to win even when they’re not at their best.”

Player Performances: Luis, Ejiofor Lead the Way

RJ Luis Jr. Delivers When It Counts

Luis was the star of the night, finishing with 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting.

• The sophomore guard took over late in the second half, making big plays on both ends of the floor.
• His one-handed dunk in transition was the signature moment of the game.
• Luis has now scored 20+ points in back-to-back games, cementing himself as one of the team’s most reliable scorers heading into March Madness.

Zuby Ejiofor Provides Interior Dominance

Ejiofor recorded a crucial double-double, finishing with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

• The 6’9″ forward was dominant in the paint, giving St. John’s a much-needed inside presence.
• He shot an efficient 7-of-11 from the field and helped control the boards.

Seton Hall’s Effort Falls Short

For Seton Hall (7-22, 2-16 Big East), the loss marked the continuation of a historically bad season.

• Dylan Addae-Wusu led the Pirates with 18 points, showing flashes of his scoring ability.
• Isaiah Coleman added 15 points, but Seton Hall couldn’t generate enough offense in crunch time.
• This marks Seton Hall’s worst season since 1982-83, as they continue to search for answers.

Key Stats and Takeaways

• Turnover Struggles: St. John’s entered the game averaging 11 turnovers per game but committed 16 giveaways—something they will need to clean up for the postseason.
• Free Throw Woes: The Red Storm shot just 63.6% from the free-throw line, an area that has been inconsistent all season.
• Unstoppable at Home: St. John’s finished a perfect 18-0 at Madison Square Garden, solidifying their dominance on their home court.

The Road Ahead: What’s Next for St. John’s?

Now that St. John’s has secured the Big East title, the focus shifts to the postseason.

• Next game: The Red Storm travel to face Marquette on March 8, a key tune-up game before the Big East Tournament.
• Big East Tournament: St. John’s will enter as the top seed, aiming to add a conference tournament title to its regular-season crown.
• March Madness Hopes: With a 26-4 record, St. John’s is positioned for a high seed in the NCAA Tournament, making them a legitimate contender in March Madness.

Conclusion: A New Era for St. John’s Basketball

For years, St. John’s basketball had been searching for a return to national relevance. With Rick Pitino at the helm, RJ Luis Jr. leading the offense, and a Big East championship now secured, it’s clear that the Red Storm are back.

The next step? A deep postseason run—and as Pitino said, this is just the beginning.

More on Sports