St. John’s Triumphs Over Marquette
In a thrilling matchup on Wednesday evening, No. 17 St. John’s showcased their resilience by overcoming a six-point deficit to defeat Marquette 76-70, marking their 12th consecutive victory and allowing them to take the lead in the Big East Conference. The Red Storm, boasting a record of 21 wins and 5 losses (14-1 in the conference), initially controlled the game but faltered midway through, allowing Marquette to claw back from an 11-point hole.
Pivotal Moments
The pivotal moment came after UConn’s 91-84 loss to Creighton earlier that day, which paved the way for St. John’s to seize the top position in the standings. The two teams are set to meet again on February 25 when St. John’s travels to UConn, after previously defeating them 81-72 at Madison Square Garden on February 6.
Player Highlights
Marquette, now sitting at 9 wins against 18 losses (4-12 in conference play), saw a standout performance from freshman Nigel James Jr., who netted 25 points, with 18 emerging in a spirited second half. Royce Parham contributed 13 points for the Golden Eagles, who are experiencing a rough patch with three consecutive losses. Oziyah Sellers and Zuby Ejiofor chipped in with 12 and 10 points, respectively, for St. John’s.
Game Dynamics
As the game unfolded, Marquette fought hard to re-establish themselves and even managed to lead in the second half for the first time since the early minutes of the game, claiming a 56-50 advantage following an impressive acrobatic layup by James. However, St. John’s retaliated sharply with a run of nine unanswered points. Despite Marquette closing the gap to just two points with a late three-point play by James, key free throws from Hopkins and Ejiofor ensured a secure victory for St. John’s.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, St. John’s will host Creighton this weekend, while Marquette will be aiming to regain form when they visit Georgetown next Tuesday. Stay updated with poll alerts and the latest on the AP Top 25 throughout the college basketball season.
