St John’s Red Storm Challenge UConn Huskies In Big East Thriller

The energy inside Madison Square Garden was electric on Friday night as the No. 22 St. John’s Red Storm hosted the No. 3 UConn Huskies in a Big East showdown that lived up to every ounce of its billing. With both teams riding impressive winning streaks—UConn with 18 straight, St. John’s with eight—the stakes couldn’t have been higher. The Huskies, led by Dan Hurley, entered the contest aiming to maintain their stranglehold atop the conference, while Rick Pitino’s revitalized Johnnies sought to prove their mettle against one of the nation’s elite squads.

Tip-off came at 8:00 p.m. ET, and the World’s Most Famous Arena was buzzing with anticipation. UConn, boasting a 22-1 record (12-0 Big East) and a perfect 7-0 mark on the road, arrived in New York fresh off a commanding 92-60 win over Xavier. St. John’s, not to be outdone, sported a 17-5 record (10-1 Big East) and a 10-2 home record, having just dispatched DePaul 68-56 earlier in the week.

From the outset, both teams showcased their defensive identities. UConn, known for its methodical pace and suffocating defense, allowed just a 44% effective field-goal percentage coming in. St. John’s, meanwhile, pushed the tempo and forced turnovers at the second-highest rate in the conference. The defensive chess match was evident as both squads traded early scoring droughts and momentum swings.

St. John’s center Zuby Ejiofor was a force early and often, asserting himself on both ends of the floor. The Red Storm, ranked No. 11 nationally in offensive rebounding rate, capitalized on UConn’s recent struggles on the defensive glass. Within the first five possessions, St. John’s had already secured three offensive boards, helping them build an early 6-2 advantage. Ejiofor, who entered the game averaging 15.7 points and 7.6 free-throw attempts per contest, continued his hot streak—he’d scored 15 or more in seven of his last ten outings.

UConn’s response came from its talented freshman Braylon Mullins and the versatile Alex Karaban. Mullins, who received a rude introduction from St. John’s Dillon Mitchell on the game’s opening play, quickly settled in, drilling a contested three-pointer and a smooth turnaround jumper. Karaban, who had grabbed six or more rebounds in four straight games entering the night, continued to be a presence on the boards and from beyond the arc.

The first half was a tug-of-war. UConn’s hot shooting—58% from the field and 5-9 from deep—was offset by turnovers and foul trouble. The Huskies committed four more turnovers and fouls than St. John’s, with Silas Demary Jr. and Tarris Reed Jr. both picking up two personal fouls before the break. St. John’s, led by Ejiofor and Ian Jackson, took full advantage at the charity stripe, combining for nine points at the line. After 20 minutes, the teams were deadlocked at 39 apiece, setting the stage for a dramatic second half.

As the second half unfolded, St. John’s seized the momentum. The Red Storm’s defense ratcheted up the pressure, forcing UConn into a flurry of turnovers—Demary Jr. alone accounted for eight giveaways. The Johnnies capitalized, with Oziyah Sellers converting free throws and Bryce Hopkins knocking down a timely three-pointer. St. John’s built a 55-45 lead with 12:46 left, as UConn went over four minutes without a field goal.

But the Huskies, as they’ve done all season, refused to go quietly. Facing their largest deficit of the game at 11 points, UConn unleashed a six-point burst—layups from Karaban and Demary Jr., sandwiched around a thunderous dunk from Tarris Reed Jr.—to trim the lead to 60-55. The crowd was on its feet, sensing a momentum shift as Pitino called timeout to regroup his squad.

With 10:45 remaining, Ejiofor delivered a backbreaking three-pointer—just his 11th of the season—pushing his stat line to 14 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. The St. John’s center was flirting with a triple-double, dominating the paint and facilitating offense from the high post.

UConn’s shooters responded. Demary Jr. and Karaban each drained triples in quick succession, slicing the deficit to a single point at 64-63 with 5:35 to play. But St. John’s, undeterred, answered every Huskies run. With 2:27 left, the Red Storm capitalized on another UConn turnover, pushing their lead to 74-67 after a smooth jumper. The Huskies, fighting to avoid their first Big East loss, leaned on freshman Braylon Mullins, who knocked down his third three-pointer of the night to make it 74-70 with two minutes remaining.

One of the night’s signature moments came courtesy of Silas Demary Jr., who soared for a poster dunk over Ejiofor, igniting the UConn faithful and drawing an animated call from FOX’s Gus Johnson: "Young fella, don’t hurt him." The highlight-reel play cut the gap, but the Johnnies held firm, buoyed by Ejiofor’s relentless activity on the glass and timely passing.

Throughout the closing minutes, both teams traded haymakers. UConn’s relentless pressure forced a few late turnovers, but St. John’s composure at the free-throw line and in half-court sets allowed them to maintain their edge. The Red Storm’s ability to exploit UConn’s foul-prone defense and rebounding woes proved decisive, as they consistently generated second-chance opportunities and high-percentage looks.

For UConn, the night was a sobering reminder of the Big East’s gauntlet. Despite shooting efficiently and getting strong contributions from Karaban, Mullins, and Reed Jr., the Huskies’ 12 second-half turnovers and negative rebounding margin were too much to overcome. St. John’s, by contrast, showcased the poise and physicality that have defined their resurgence under Pitino.

With the final moments ticking away, Madison Square Garden was awash in anticipation. Would UConn’s late push be enough, or would St. John’s notch a season-defining victory? As the buzzer neared, the Red Storm’s resilience shone through, holding off the Huskies’ furious rally in a game that will be remembered as one of the Big East’s classics.

The battle for conference supremacy rages on, with both teams emerging from this heavyweight bout knowing they’ll likely cross paths again come tournament time. For now, the Red Storm’s faithful can savor a night when their team stood tall on one of college basketball’s grandest stages.