St. John’s comes back to defeat Seton Hall for their fifth consecutive victory

St. John’s Pulls Off Dramatic Comeback to Defeat Seton Hall

It had a familiar feel to it this time around.

Down by a significant margin, everything seemed to be falling apart. But then, unexpectedly, St. John’s came alive, playing as if their season depended on it.

With Cadderly Richmond and RJ Lewis missing from the lineup, Dillon Mitchell and Dylan Darling stepped up on Tuesday night, leading their team back from a 15-point deficit to secure a 65-60 victory over their rivals, Seton Hall, at the Garden. This win marked their fifth consecutive victory.

Even on a night when Zubie Ejiofor struggled, and the starting backcourt of Ojiya Sellers and Ian Jackson was ineffective, the Red Storm found their rhythm late in the game.

After trailing by 15 points early in the second half, St. John’s staged a comeback, outscoring Seton Hall 33-13 in the last 15 minutes and 39 seconds. This comeback was the biggest of the season for St. John’s.

Mitchell secured the lead for good with just under five minutes remaining, while Darling’s steal and basket with 1:10 left pushed the advantage to five points.

Crucially, Ejiofor converted three free throws in the last 1:21 of the game, helping the Red Storm achieve their 10th win in 12 games and keeping them firmly in second place in the Big East.

Mitchell topped the scoring for St. John’s with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Bryce Hopkins contributed 13 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Darling added eight points and three steals.

On the defensive end, St. John’s forced Seton Hall into 13 turnovers and limited them to a mere 28 percent shooting in the second half, proving that defense was key in their victory.

Seton Hall had a six-point lead at halftime, a margin that could have been larger; they played with intensity and secured their advantage in the first half. But the dynamics changed dramatically after the break.

Seton Hall jumped ahead by scoring the first nine points of the second half, opening a 15-point lead before St. John’s managed to notch their first basket. They started poorly, going 0-for-6 from the field with three turnovers.