St. John’s Historic Comeback Victory
In a thrilling comeback, St. John’s overcame a significant 16-point second-half deficit to clinch an 88-83 victory against Xavier, marking a historic milestone for head coach Rick Pitino. With just 53.2 seconds on the clock, Dylan Darling nailed a crucial three-pointer, while Ruben Prey secured the win with a timely putback layup 13 seconds before the buzzer. This triumph not only signifies an impressive achievement for Pitino, registering his 900th career victory, but it also adds to his family narrative as it came at the expense of his son, Richard, who is in his inaugural season as the Musketeers’ head coach.
Milestone Achievements
With this latest win, Rick Pitino becomes the fourth coach in NCAA Division I history to reach the 900-win mark, joining a distinguished group that includes Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Boeheim, and Roy Williams. Notably, the elder Pitino has now won four out of their five encounters, further extending his record against Richard, who has held coaching roles at institutions like Florida International, Minnesota, and New Mexico.
Standout Performances
St. John’s, improving to a record of 15-5 and a commendable 8-1 in Big East play, saw standout performances from Bryce Hopkins, who topped the scoring charts with 18 points. Dillon Mitchell contributed 17, while Ian Jackson added 16 to aid in their sixth consecutive victory. On the opposing side, Xavier’s Tre Carroll delivered an extraordinary performance, tallying a career-high 31 points—18 of which came in the latter half—marking his third straight game with 29 or more points. Teammate Malik Messina-Moore also had a strong outing, scoring 17 points, including 15 in the first half.
Game Highlights
The match showcased a rollercoaster of momentum, with Xavier leading 49-37 at halftime and briefly stretching their lead to 55-39 early in the second half. However, St. John’s responded emphatically with a 16-1 surge that shifted the game’s momentum. The Red Storm initially jumped to a quick 20-11 lead, but Xavier soon took control with a 19-6 run to assert a commanding lead heading into halftime.
Upcoming Matches
Next up for St. John’s is a home game against Butler on Wednesday, while Xavier is set to face Seton Hall on the same day.
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