St. John’s Surges Past Villanova in Thrilling Big East Showdown at Madison Square Garden
By: Cal Griffin
All Things Hoops
In an electrifying clash at Madison Square Garden, St. John’s Red Storm defeated the Villanova Wildcats, 82-71, bolstering their NCAA Tournament hopes. With a 14-3 record, the Red Storm, guided by legendary coach Rick Pitino, aimed to assert their dominance over the storied Wildcats.
Photo courtesy of AJ Munroe
St. John’s took a narrow 44-37 lead into halftime, thanks to strong performances, especially from junior RJ Luis. The packed arena buzzed with energy as the teams battled for supremacy. St. John’s suffered a minor setback with senior guard, Devion Smith going down with a shoulder injury nearly two minutes left in the first half. The injury doesn’t appear to be serious, but will be monitoring it closely.
Photo courtesy of AJ Munroe
The second half saw Pitino’s halftime speech inspire a sharper defensive effort. RJ Luis erupted for 30 points and 10 rebounds, becoming only the fifth player in St. John’s history to achieve such a feat. Kadary Richmond contributed across the board with 9 points, 5 assists, and 7 rebounds, showcasing the team’s depth.
Photo courtesy of AJ Munroe
Despite Villanova’s efforts, they struggled to find rhythm, particularly with Eric Dixon limited to 18 points. St. John’s executed their game plan effectively and celebrated a vital victory.
Photo courtesy of AJ Munroe