Zuby Ejiofor scored 17 points and fifth-ranked St. John’s began its third season under coach Rick Pitino with a wire-to-wire 108-74 victory over Quinnipiac on Monday night in New York in the season opener for both teams.
The Red Storm lived up to their billing with a dominant showing ahead of Saturday’s game against No. 15 Alabama at Madison Square Garden.
Ejiofor, the preseason Big East Player of the Year, made 7 of 10 shots from the field in 24 minutes. The forward also grabbed six rebounds and handed out three assists.
Dillon Mitchell scored a game-high 18 in his St. John’s debut after transferring from Cincinnati. The guard made seven of nine shots and also grabbed seven rebounds to go along with four of the Red Storm’s 12 steals.
Ian Jackson added 15 on 6-of-6 shooting (including 3-of-3 from 3-point range) after joining the Red Storm following one season at North Carolina. Joson Sanon came off the bench and chipped in 14 in his Red Storm debut after spending last season with Arizona State.
Sadine Ibine Ayo contributed 10 as the Red Storm shot 56.5% from the field and scored 60 points in the paint.
Keith McKnight and Jade Zimmerman each scored 19 for the Bobcats. Amarri Monroe and Asim Jones finished with 10 apiece as Quinnipiac shot 40.3% from the field and committed 22 turnovers.
St. John’s scored the first seven points and opened a 19-4 lead on a dunk by Mitchell with 15:21 left. The Red Storm scored eight straight points and their lead reached 23 at 34-11 on a hoop by Sanon with about nine minutes left. The hosts took a 54-34 lead by halftime after Dylan Darling sank a triple with 43 seconds left.
The Red Storm maintained their wide lead throughout the second half, with consecutive inside baskets by Ejiofor opening a 72-48 advantage with 12:48 left. After Ejiofor took a seat for the night, St. John’s built a 35-point lead a few minutes later and reached 100 points on a layup by Jackson with 6:17 remaining.
