The St. John’s men’s basketball team mounted an incredible comeback against Providence, erasing a 16-point deficit to secure a thrilling 72-70 win on Friday night at Amica Mutual Pavilion.
Junior forward Zuby Ejiofor was the hero for St. John’s (10-2, 2-0 BIG EAST), scoring the game-winning bucket at the buzzer to clinch the victory, marking the Red Storm's first triumph over the Friars (7-6, 1-1 BIG EAST) at this venue since January 25, 2017. Ejiofor finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds, achieving his fifth double-double of the season.
The match started with both teams exchanging the lead multiple times. Early on, Providence built substantial momentum, going on a formidable 29-9 run to take control with 3:39 left in the first half, culminating with Bensley Joseph’s sixth three-pointer of the half, pushing the Friars to a 38-22 advantage.
At halftime, St. John’s found themselves trailing 42-29 after Joseph led Providence with 17 points. The Friars demonstrated impressive shooting, hitting 63% from the field (17 of 27). But the tide would turn.
St. John’s exploded out of the halftime locker room, orchestrated by Ejiofor and guard Deivon Smith, who scored 17 points throughout the game. The Red Storm quickly cut down on the deficit with a 9-1 run, thanks to two baskets from Ejiofor and some notable jumpers from Smith. This surge brought them back within seven points at 45-38.
Jaiden Glover and Andre Wilcher then drained important three-pointers, bringing the Red Storm to within five points, 52-47. Following this, RJ Luis Jr. scored seven of the next nine points for St. John’s, making it just 58-56 with eight minutes remaining and igniting hope among the traveling Red Storm fans.
After Ejiofor’s successful free throws and subsequent basket gave St. John’s their first lead of the game at 60-58, the thrilling contest saw multiple lead changes through to the final minutes. A quick five-point run by the Friars gave them another brief advantage before Smith surged through the lane to reclaim the lead at 64-63.
With only 2:19 to play, Kadary Richmond’s impressive interception led to Luis completing a three-point play, extending St. John’s advantage to 67-63. Providence's Corey Floyd Jr. soon countered with four consecutive free throws to close the margin to 68-67.
Only 35 seconds remained when Smith drove to the basket for another key floater, propelling St. John’s to a 70-67 lead. Providence tallied the second half's only three-pointer from Joseph to tie it again at 70, setting the stage for Ejiofor's dramatic final shot.
Fans watched with bated breath as Smith's last attempt fell short, but Ejiofor, seizing the opportunity, grabbed his sixth offensive rebound and made the game-winner just as the buzzer sounded.
This remarkable comeback not only showcases St. John’s resilience but also sets the stage for their next matchup against Delaware on December 28, as they look to build on this momentum. Providence, facing Marquette next, will be eager to rebound from this disappointing loss.
With the Red Storm proving they can overcome adversity, basketball enthusiasts await what else this young team can deliver as they push through the rest of the BIG EAST season.
