Pitino Makes History as No. 17 St. John's Survives Xavier in Overtime Thriller
No. 17 St. John's extended its winning streak to 10 games with a dramatic 87-82 overtime victory against Xavier at Madison Square Garden, a contest that saw head coach Rick Pitino add another milestone to his storied career.
Big man Zuby Ejiofor delivered a standout performance, pouring in a season-high 25 points, including six critical points in the extra period. Ejiofor's dominance in overtime helped the Red Storm fend off a relentless Xavier squad that refused to go away.
St. John's entered the matchup riding a wave of momentum, and their resilience was tested by a Xavier team intent on pulling off an upset. With the contest knotted at the end of regulation, both squads traded baskets in a tense overtime, but Ejiofor's poise in the paint proved decisive.
The Red Storm's streak has propelled them up the national rankings and solidified their position as contenders in the Big East. The win at "the World's Most Famous Arena" carries added significance for head coach Rick Pitino, whose latest victory moves him further up the all-time wins chart among NCAA coaches.
St. John's will look to keep its momentum alive as the regular season intensifies, while Xavier, despite the loss, demonstrated the kind of grit that could make them a tough opponent down the stretch.
Big man Zuby Ejiofor delivered a standout performance, pouring in a season-high 25 points, including six critical points in the extra period. Ejiofor's dominance in overtime helped the Red Storm fend off a relentless Xavier squad that refused to go away.
- Ejiofor led all scorers with 25 points
- No. 17 St. John's improved to 10 straight wins
- The game was held at Madison Square Garden
- Rick Pitino moved up the NCAA career wins list
St. John's entered the matchup riding a wave of momentum, and their resilience was tested by a Xavier team intent on pulling off an upset. With the contest knotted at the end of regulation, both squads traded baskets in a tense overtime, but Ejiofor's poise in the paint proved decisive.
The Red Storm's streak has propelled them up the national rankings and solidified their position as contenders in the Big East. The win at "the World's Most Famous Arena" carries added significance for head coach Rick Pitino, whose latest victory moves him further up the all-time wins chart among NCAA coaches.
St. John's will look to keep its momentum alive as the regular season intensifies, while Xavier, despite the loss, demonstrated the kind of grit that could make them a tough opponent down the stretch.