St. John’s University secured a 70-62 victory over Butler on Saturday afternoon at Carnesecca Arena, marking their 14th consecutive home win.
Key Performances:
• RJ Luis Jr.: Led the Red Storm with a double-double, scoring 20 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. He also contributed a game-high four steals.
• Zuby Ejiofor: All 14 of his points came in the second half, shooting 4-for-7 from the field and 6-for-8 from the free-throw line. He added eight rebounds and a steal.
• Deivon Smith: Contributed 13 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals in nearly 30 minutes of play.
• Kadary Richmond: Filled the stat sheet with 11 points, six assists, six rebounds, and three steals.
Team Statistics:
• Field Goals: 26-for-71 (36.6%)
• 3-Point Shooting: 1-for-21 (4.8%)
• Free Throws: 17-for-23 (73.9%)
• Points in the Paint: 40
• Fast Break Points: 27
• Points off Turnovers: 19
Despite their struggles from beyond the arc, hitting only one of 21 attempts, the Red Storm capitalized on Butler’s 20 turnovers, converting them into 19 points. Their aggressive defense also led to 27 fast-break points, showcasing their ability to excel in transition.
Butler was led by Pierre Brooks, who scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds, and Patrick McCaffery, who added 13 points and 11 rebounds. However, the Bulldogs’ 20 turnovers proved costly in the tightly contested game.
St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino expressed frustration with certain decisions during the game, notably criticizing sophomore guard Simeon Wilcher for attempting a windmill dunk in the final seconds. Pitino remarked, “It lacks common sense,” emphasizing the importance of smart play, especially in crucial moments.
The Red Storm’s victory improves their record to 12-3 overall and 3-1 in Big East play. They will look to continue their winning streak as they hit the road to face Xavier on Tuesday evening.