St. John’s Triumphs Over DePaul
In a spirited display on Tuesday evening, No. 22 St. John’s secured their eighth consecutive victory by defeating DePaul 68-56 in Chicago. Zuby Ejiofor shone with 16 points and nine rebounds, enhancing the Red Storm’s impressive season record to 17-5, including an exceptional 10-1 in Big East play. This triumph marked the 902nd career win for the legendary Hall of Fame coach, Rick Pitino.
Game Highlights
Although St. John’s had a lackluster first half, leading just 29-28 at halftime, they launched a strong second half, including a pivotal 16-2 scoring run that propelled them to a 50-37 advantage. The run began as Ejiofor scored, including two free throws, contributing to his milestone of exceeding 1,000 career points at St. John’s. During this stretch, Oziyah Sellers and Ian Jackson each contributed with crucial three-pointers.
DePaul’s Struggles
Despite a tough season, DePaul, who currently stands at 12-11 with a record of 4-8 in the Big East, saw Layden Blocker lead their efforts with 13 points. The Blue Demons extended their unfortunate record to 24 straight losses against ranked opponents, with their last victory over a Top 25 team occurring on January 18, 2023, against No. 8 Xavier.
Final Minutes and Sentimental Moments
As the game drained into the final minutes, DePaul managed to cut the deficit to just six points at 56-50 following a quick fast-break layup from Blocker. However, St. John’s maintained their composure and secured the win, further cementing their solid road performance this season, now having won six consecutive games away from home – their best stretch in over 40 years.
Halftime marked a sentimental moment for DePaul fans, as Rod Strickland’s jersey was retired. Strickland, who played for the Blue Demons from 1985 to 1988, joins a prestigious list of former players including Mark Aguirre and George Mikan. Notably, Strickland began his professional career under the coaching of Pitino with the New York Knicks.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, St. John’s will face their significant challenge on Friday night against No. 3 UConn at Madison Square Garden, while DePaul is set to travel to Providence this Saturday.
