St. John’s Overcomes New Mexico in Dominant 85-71 Victory at MSG
The No. 22 St. John’s Red Storm delivered an impressive performance against the New Mexico Lobos on Sunday, November 17, at Madison Square Garden. Behind a strong showing from RJ Luis and a balanced team effort, the Red Storm secured an 85-71 win, maintaining their unbeaten start to the season.
Key Performances
• RJ Luis led the way for St. John’s, contributing 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists. His efficiency and versatility anchored the Red Storm’s offense.
• Kadary Richmond added 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists, although turnovers (7) were a slight blemish on his otherwise solid outing.
• For New Mexico, Mustapha Amzil and CJ Noland were the bright spots. Amzil tallied 16 points, including 4 three-pointers, while Noland contributed 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists .
Game Breakdown
St. John’s took control early, capitalizing on an 11-0 first-half run to secure a double-digit lead by halftime (40-29). New Mexico managed a push in the second half, closing the gap to single digits, but St. John’s responded with another key 12-4 run to pull away for good.
The Red Storm outpaced the Lobos on the boards, grabbing 40 rebounds to New Mexico’s 31. St. John’s also limited the Lobos to 43% shooting while forcing 12 turnovers .
Quotes from the Game
After the game, St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino praised his team’s resilience: “We defended well, rebounded hard, and executed when it mattered. RJ [Luis] was sensational tonight.”
New Mexico head coach Richard Pitino acknowledged the challenge: “St. John’s is a very good team. We had moments, but their depth and intensity were tough to overcome.”
Looking Ahead
The Red Storm will now prepare for the Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship, facing Baylor on November 21. New Mexico returns home to host Grambling State on November 21 as they aim to bounce back from this defeat .