Zuby Ejiofor totaled 16 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high 10 assists for his first career triple-double as No. 15 St. John’s relentlessly defended and overwhelmed Villanova from the outset and rolled to an 89-57 victory Saturday night in New York.
The Red Storm (23-6, 16-2 Big East) bounced back impressively from Wednesday’s 72-40 loss at No. 6 UConn. St. John’s remained a half-game behind the Huskies for first place in the Big East.
Villanova (22-7, 13-5) went 0-4 against UConn and St. John’s and was unable to inch closer to second in the Big East. The Wildcats lost for the second time in three games following a six-game winning streak and will finish third in the Big East.
Ejiofor made 6 of 12 shots after being held to six points Wednesday and got his 10th assist on a 3 by Josan Sanon with 3:12 left. It was the fourth triple-double in school history and second straight season St. John’s achieved the feat after Kadary Richmond did it last March 8 at Marquette.
Ejiofor joined David Cain and Ron Artest along with Richmond as the only players with a triple-double in program history.
Ian Jackson came off the bench and contributed 19 and a career-high five steals to help St. John’s earn its most lopsided win in school history over Villanova, eclipsing a 23-point win in January 1998. Oziyah Sellers contributed 14 as St. John’s won for the 14th time in 15 games.
The Red Storm shot 57.6% in the first half when they converted seven of their eight dunks. St. John’s finished at 52.5% overall.
Duke Brennan led Villanova with 12 points while Bryce Lindsay and Devin Askew added 10 apiece. Standout freshman Acaden Lewis was held to eight points and committed five of Villanova’s 16 turnovers.
The Wildcats also lost Matt Hodge to an apparent leg injury when the forward landed awkwardly trying to maneuver to the rim early in the second half.
Villanova shot 25.9% in the first 20 minutes and finished at 37% overall.
After Villanova scored on the first possession, St John’s ripped off 11 straight for an 11-2 lead on a 3 by Sellers with 15:47 left. The Red Storm expanded their lead to 30-14 when Jackson converted a windmill dunk off a steal and Ruben Prey made a two-handed dunk with just under nine minutes left.
St. John’s took a 20-point lead when Sellers connected with Ejiofor for an alley-oop dunk with 5:57 left, took a 30-point lead on a putback by Hopkins and held a 48-23 lead by halftime. The Red Storm never let the lead slip below 17 in the final 20 minutes.
