On January 4, 2024, the St. John's Red Storm pulled off a remarkable comeback to defeat the Butler Bulldogs 70-62, overcoming significant shooting struggles, particularly from the 3-point line.
Despite being known for their inability to shoot effectively from beyond the arc, the Red Storm’s performance on Saturday was even worse than usual, as they managed to sink only 1 of their 21 attempts (4.8%) from 3-point range. Nevertheless, they persevered, showcasing resilience and teamwork to erase a 7-point deficit late in the game.
Leading the charge for St. John's was RJ Luis, who scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. His dynamic play included converting what proved to be the tie-breaking dunk with 4:48 remaining on the clock, initiating a game-ending 15-7 scoring run for the Red Storm. Luis's hard work reflected his determination to make up for previous missed opportunities, especially after struggling with his three-point shooting earlier this week.
Zuby Ejiofor also made significant contributions, scoring all of his 14 points after halftime. Ejiofor had entered the second half scoreless, but he came alive, scoring 10 points within the first six and half minutes after the break. This included two pivotal 3-point plays, helping propel St. John's to seize control of the game.
Kadary Richmond, another key player for the Red Storm, showcased his value late in the game. After entering the final minutes with St. John's trailing by a point, he rallied the team with five points, three rebounds, two steals, and one assist, demonstrating his all-around capabilities. Coach Rick Pitino noted Richmond’s impact, stating, "He was responsible for this win tonight, but he needs to do it the whole game." Pitino emphasized the necessity for Richmond to maintain such high performance throughout future matchups.
The first half was a struggle for both teams, but the Bulldogs led 29-25 at halftime. Butler initially leveraged poor shooting from St. John's, who missed 21 of their first 23 shots and went scoreless for over two minutes at the end of the half. Butler's Pierre Brooks emerged as the standout performer, scoring 17 points. Patrick McCaffery added 13, but the team overall stumbled with 20 turnovers, severely hindering their chances of victory.
After halftime, Butler regained some momentum when they led 36-29, but it was short-lived as St. John's mounted their comeback to take the lead. With Ejiofor sparking the offense, the Red Storm's intensity shifted the game entirely. The Bulldogs then fought to tie it at 55 with just over five minutes left, but Luis quickly retook control with aggressive drives to the basket after Richmond’s effective layups late.
The game concluded with St. John's sealing the victory through the collective efforts of their key players, showcasing the never-quit attitude noted by Coach Pitino. "We didn’t have it tonight. We just gutted it out with the never quit attitude," said Pitino post-game, highlighting the team's determination.
This victory boosts St. John's record to 12-3, 3-1 in the Big East, continuing their climb as they eye upcoming games, including a matchup against Xavier on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the loss extends Butler’s streak to seven consecutive defeats, dropping their record to 7-8, 0-4 within the conference, raising questions about recovery strategies as they search for answers to regain their early-season success.