St. John’s Claims Narrow Victory Over Ole Miss

Rick Pitino was looking for a stronger defensive performance, and his top player stepped up to lead the way.

Zubie Ejiofor played a significant role in St. John’s 63-58 victory against Ole Miss at Madison Square Garden. The senior forward recorded a career-high eight blocked shots, along with nine rebounds, three steals, and contributed a team-high 15 points.

By halftime, Ejiofor had made six shots, yet surprisingly, he only scored two points up to that point.

“How many points did he have at halftime? Two points. That’s what impressed me the most,” coach Rick Pitino remarked. “He didn’t let his frustrations affect him. He didn’t even seem to think about his scoring. He just kept pushing. Coaching him is really easy.”

Ejiofor became the fourth player in St. John’s history to record eight blocks in a single game, joining the likes of Tarik Owens, Chris Obekpa, and Sir Dominic Pointer.

“Honestly, I didn’t realize I had eight blocks until I checked the stats,” Ejiofor admitted. “I always aim to stay engaged, especially on defense.”

Dylan Darling found a way to contribute, scoring all seven of his points in the final four minutes despite struggling with his shooting. He finished the game with just one field goal out of five attempts and missed both of his three-point attempts. However, he succeeded in making five out of six free throw attempts during the crucial moments.

“I was glad to make those crucial free throws and help secure the win,” Darling shared. “I want to be able to contribute more than just from the line. I believe improving my shooting will really benefit the team. It’s something I’m focused on.”

This victory ended a seven-game losing streak against SEC teams for St. John’s, marking their first win against such opponents since 2012. Despite this win, the Johnnies shot a disappointing 34 percent from the field and recorded a season-high 20 turnovers. It’s, um, something to think about for future games.