St. John’s Red Storm Triumphs with Ejiofor’s Triple-Double
During a memorable night at Madison Square Garden, Zuby Ejiofor, a senior forward for the 15th-ranked St. John’s Red Storm, delivered a standout performance in his next-to-last regular-season home game. With a spectacular showing, he recorded a triple-double — his first in college basketball — finishing with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. His achievements helped propel the Red Storm to a dominant 89-57 victory over Villanova on Saturday.
Significance of the Achievement
For Ejiofor, who stands 6-foot-9 and weighs 245 pounds, the significance of this achievement was amplified by the presence of his family in the audience.
“It means everything to have this type of performance, especially with my family in the crowd as well,”
he expressed after the game. This remarkable feat marked only the fifth triple-double in St. John’s history since the 1985-86 season and the second in nearly three decades. The previous triple-double was recorded last season by Kadary Richmond.
Coach’s Praise and Team Dynamics
Ejiofor has also emerged as the leader in assists on the team, prompting coach Rick Pitino to highlight his contributions post-game.
“Incredible for the 5-man on your team to get 10 assists. But he is the team leader in assists. And he was well rested because he took a day off against Connecticut,”
Pitino humorously noted. This game was particularly important for St. John’s, as they sought to bounce back from a disheartening 72-40 loss to No. 6 UConn just a few days earlier, resulting in their largest defeat under Pitino after a commendable 13-game winning streak.
Defensive Prowess and Team Performance
Against Villanova, Ejiofor’s high energy and defensive prowess were on full display, thwarting the Wildcats’ efforts. Villanova coach Kevin Willard acknowledged Ejiofor’s impact, stating,
“You knew Zuby wasn’t going to come out and lay an egg. He was phenomenal defensively, the way he was switching, talking, communicating.”
As the crowd of nearly 20,000 eagerly anticipated Ejiofor’s third assist for the triple-double, he delivered a pass to Joson Sanon, who converted with a jumper just over three minutes left in the game. Ejiofor was then substituted, leaving the court to thunderous applause. Reflecting on both his performance and the crowd’s response, he called it a “special moment.”
Looking Ahead
In addition to Ejiofor’s heroics, Ian Jackson provided critical support off the bench, contributing 19 points and a personal-best five steals for St. John’s (23-6, 16-2 Big East). The Red Storm expanded their lead to 30 points in the first half, maintaining a solid half-game standing behind UConn in the conference. Meanwhile, Villanova (22-7, 13-5) faced a harsh result, marking its lowest score of the season and their most significant defeat since 1997.
As St. John’s prepares for its final regular-season game against Georgetown on Tuesday — an event expected to honor Ejiofor on Senior Night — the player reflected on his development during his three years with the program.
“I became a man in this program. Coach Pitino has guided me through this whole process, not just with basketball, but with life in general. I’m really blessed to put on this jersey each and every night,”
he stated, acknowledging the transformative journey he has undergone since transferring from Kansas.
