Zuby Ejiofor gestured enthusiastically to St. John’s supporters, urging them to amp up their cheers.
A spirited chant of “Let’s go, Johnny” erupted, prompting a timeout.
The Connecticut section was eerily quiet.
For the first time in their history, the Red Storm celebrated back-to-back Big East Tournament titles.
They dominated the Huskies, keeping them at bay and seemingly out of place on the court.
Even with 3:26 remaining, it felt like a mere formality; the lead had swelled to 20 points. St. John’s weathered Connecticut’s second-half surge and struck decisively in critical moments.
Confetti would soon shower down after this commanding 72-52 win in front of a roaring crowd at the Garden.
Ejiofor’s last game at Madison Square Garden was nothing short of a fairy tale, with the audience chanting his name as he concluded his collegiate career.
Tears streamed down his face.
When Connecticut managed to close the gap to seven points, Ejiofor stood firm.
He made three-pointers, scored from inside, and executed a block that led to a spectacular windmill dunk by Dillon Mitchell.
St. John’s finished the game with a thrilling 13-0 run, thanks in part to Dylan Darling, a small point guard from Idaho, who stepped up just when needed.
Not long ago, St. John’s had faced a disheartening 32-point loss against the Huskies in Hartford, Connecticut.
Yet the Red Storm responded like champions, winning six straight games since that defeat.
On this Saturday night, they took their revenge, silencing the University of Connecticut crowd, known as “Storrs South,” and holding them scoreless for nearly seven minutes.
Ejiofor delivered an impressive all-around performance with 18 points, 9 rebounds, 7 blocks, and 3 steals. Bryce Hopkins also scored 18 points, while Oziyah Sellers added 14. Mitchell contributed 9 points and grabbed 9 rebounds.
The Huskies struggled offensively, shooting only 34 percent and making 3 of 18 from beyond the arc, with Taris Reed Jr. leading their scoring with 17 points.
Coach Rick Pitino couldn’t have scripted a better opening. St. John’s surged ahead with the first 10 points, quickly establishing a 14-point lead.
The Red Storm (28-6) started strong, making 13 of their first 18 shots.
Connecticut’s turnovers (five) matched St. John’s missed shots, prompting a technical foul against UW’s Dan Hurley for protesting a non-call.
Mitchell’s alley-oop triggered a wild response from the packed crowd as the Red Storm’s lead ballooned to 17 points.
St. John’s shot 50 percent from the floor, converting the Huskies’ 11 turnovers into 15 points, leading by 13 at halftime.
The trio of Ejiofor, Mitchell, and Hopkins combined for 25 points and 12 rebounds in that first half.
Meanwhile, UW seemed a bit rattled, hitting just 2 of 8 three-pointers and shooting only 36% overall.
But the Huskies began the second half with a 7-0 run, cutting an 18-point deficit to 11.
As Reed scored consecutively, their comeback effort picked up momentum, narrowing St. John’s lead to just seven points with over 12 minutes left.
St. John’s struggled to find good shots, missing 6 of 7 attempts during a critical stretch.
After a timeout, Hopkins found his rhythm with a jumper from the left elbow.
Ejiofor followed up with a crucial three-pointer, reestablishing control.
Even when Connecticut fought back, Ejiofor made a pivotal block leading to Mitchell’s eye-catching dunk.
St. John’s was determined not to falter.
This place isn’t just a court; it’s a home.
And Ejiofor truly shined in his final collegiate appearance here.
