Lead: On March 13, 2026 at Madison Square Garden, St. John’s beat Seton Hall 78-68 to move one victory from repeating as Big East Tournament champions. The Red Storm withstood a late Pirate surge and closed the game on an emphatic run, preserving a 19-point advantage they had built earlier. Zuby Ejiofor led the way with 20 points and five rebounds, while Joson Sanon added 15; the win sends St. John’s to a second consecutive conference title game for the first time since 1999-2000. St. John’s will face the winner of No. 2 Connecticut and No. 11 Georgetown in the title-game nightcap Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
Key Takeaways
- Final score: St. John’s 78, Seton Hall 68; game played March 13, 2026 at Madison Square Garden.
- Zuby Ejiofor finished with 20 points and five rebounds and improved to 6-1 in Big East Tournament games.
- Joson Sanon contributed 15 points; Dillon Mitchell and Bryce Hopkins each scored 13 (Mitchell: six rebounds, five assists; Hopkins: seven rebounds, four assists).
- Seton Hall’s Adam “Budd” Clark had 17 points and 11 assists; Clark and AJ Staton-McCray were held to a combined seven points on 3-for-11 shooting.
- St. John’s shot 51 percent in the first half and scored 24 points in the paint during that period; the team has won 18 of its last 19 games.
- The Red Storm have recorded five straight Big East Tournament victories by double figures and are the first St. John’s team since 1999-2000 to reach back-to-back conference title games.
- Over the first 11:08 of the second half, Seton Hall scored just six points and was scoreless for the first 5:35 of the stanza.
Background
St. John’s entered the Big East Tournament having built one of the conference’s most sustained runs this season, driven by interior scoring and consistent defense. The program’s momentum is the culmination of a long regular season push; the Red Storm have won 18 of 19 games heading into the title-game weekend. The rivalry with nearby Seton Hall adds local intensity—matchups at the Garden frequently draw passionate crowds and have postseason implications beyond the conference trophy. For St. John’s, a tournament repeat would mark a milestone: the first back-to-back Big East title-game appearances for the program since the 1999-2000 seasons, reinforcing the team’s national profile as the NCAA selection window approaches.
Seton Hall arrived as the fourth seed, led by point guard Adam Clark, whose playmaking has been central to the Pirates’ success this season. The Pirates needed a late surge to threaten the Red Storm on Friday but fell short; analysts note that Seton Hall’s offensive slump in stretches of the second half opened the door for St. John’s to reassert control. The Big East Tournament format—single-elimination over several nights at a neutral site—rewards teams that can string together consistent defensive stretches and efficient paint offense, areas where St. John’s has recently excelled. With the NCAA Tournament selection committee meeting on the horizon, conference tournament outcomes will influence seeding conversations for multiple teams, including both programs tonight.
Main Event
The game began with St. John’s replicating the early burst that beat Providence the night before: an 8-0 push keyed entirely by inside scoring. That interior strength translated to a first half in which the Red Storm shot 51 percent and generated 24 points in the paint, building leads that forced Seton Hall to chase. Sanon, Ejiofor and Mitchell combined for 32 of St. John’s 38 first-half points, going 13-for-22 from the floor to help the team take an eight-point lead to the break.
St. John’s opened the second half with a dominant sequence, scoring on its first four possessions while holding Seton Hall scoreless on five straight possessions. The stretch pushed the lead to 19 and put the Pirates on the defensive ropes. Over the first 11:08 of the half, Seton Hall managed just six points and the Pirates were held without a point for the opening 5:35, a lull that the Red Storm exploited to control tempo and avoid an upset.
Late in the second half, Seton Hall mounted a comeback that cut a 19-point deficit to six with 4:41 remaining, after a 7-0 run capped by an AJ Staton-McCray 3. Facing a tense finish, Ejiofor answered immediately: he scored inside on St. John’s next possession and followed with a block on Jacob Dar on the other end. Sanon converted two free throws and Dillon Mitchell recorded a decisive steal, combining for a finishing sequence that reestablished a comfortable margin and sealed the 78-68 victory.
Analysis & Implications
St. John’s strength in the paint and late-game defensive stops are the clearest drivers of its tournament run. The team’s ability to convert inside and protect the rim forced Seton Hall into low-efficiency perimeter attempts; Clark and Staton-McCray combined for only seven first-half points, limiting the Pirates’ scoring options. That paint-first identity gives St. John’s a repeatable blueprint in the tournament: control the interior, limit opponent playmakers, and close out games with defensive possessions.
For NCAA Tournament prospects, the win strengthens St. John’s résumé by adding a marquee postseason victory at Madison Square Garden and maintaining its long winning streak. The selection committee weighs conference tournament performance, and consecutive deep runs bolster St. John’s case for a favorable seed. By contrast, Seton Hall’s offensive droughts and the relatively low output from its primary scorers increase the likelihood that the Pirates will miss the NCAA field unless they secure an at-large profile with other key wins before selections are finalized.
Looking ahead to the title game, matchups will determine how far St. John’s can extend its run. If they face Connecticut, the Red Storm will be tested by a typical UConn approach—length, athleticism and halfcourt execution. Against Georgetown, the game could turn on interior battles and turnovers. St. John’s depth—multiple contributors who can score inside and defend—gives it matchup flexibility, but the team must sustain defensive focus and free-throw discipline in a higher-pressure final.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | St. John’s (First Half) | Seton Hall (First Half) |
|---|---|---|
| Field goal percentage | 51% | — |
| Points in the paint | 24 | — |
| Key contributors (first half) | Sanon/Mitchell/Ejiofor — 32 of 38 points (13-for-22) | Clark & Staton-McCray — 7 points (3-for-11) |
| Second-half drought | — | 6 points in first 11:08 |
These figures underline the game’s decisive phases: St. John’s first-half efficiency and paint dominance set the foundation, while Seton Hall’s second-half scoring drought prevented any sustained comeback. The Red Storm’s balanced interior scoring and timely defensive plays created separation that Seton Hall could not overcome.
Reactions & Quotes
Postgame responses emphasized St. John’s defensive stands and clutch plays in the closing minutes. Officials, team spokespeople and local analysts highlighted the interior defense and Ejiofor’s late contributions as turning points.
“St. John’s advances to the Big East title game after a 78-68 win in New York.”
Big East (official release)
The conference statement framed the victory as a program milestone and previewed the championship matchup. Tournament organizers underscored the significance of back-to-back title-game appearances for the St. John’s program.
“Our guys found stops when it mattered and finished plays inside down the stretch.”
St. John’s athletics (postgame summary)
The team’s postgame communication highlighted Ejiofor’s scoring and the defensive plays that halted Seton Hall’s rally. St. John’s officials pointed to a collective effort from multiple rotation players rather than a single-game heroics narrative.
“Offensive droughts in the second half cost us opportunities to get back in rhythm.”
Seton Hall statement / local analysts
Seton Hall commentary and local assessments attributed the loss to extended scoring lulls and the inability of primary scorers to produce at usual efficiency, emphasizing the urgency for adjustments should the Pirates hope for an at-large NCAA berth.
Unconfirmed
- Seton Hall’s NCAA Tournament fate remains unconfirmed; although media outlets report the Pirates will likely miss the field, the selection committee’s final decision is pending.
- The exact NCAA seeding impact for St. John’s depends on results elsewhere and the committee’s subjective evaluation of non-conference strength; current projections are indicative but not final.
Bottom Line
St. John’s secured a 78-68 win over Seton Hall on March 13, 2026 at Madison Square Garden, pushing the program to the Big East title game for the second consecutive year for the first time since 1999-2000. The victory rested on efficient interior offense, a dominant first half, and clutch defensive plays late—most notably from Zuby Ejiofor, Joson Sanon and Dillon Mitchell.
The immediate outlook: St. John’s enters the title game with sustained momentum and multiple players capable of altering matchups, improving its standing for NCAA seeding conversations. For Seton Hall, the loss exposes offensive inconsistencies that must be addressed if the Pirates hope to influence at-large considerations or prepare for offseason adjustments.
Sources
- New York Post — local media coverage and game recap.
- Big East — official conference release and tournament information (official).
- St. John’s Athletics — team game notes and postgame summaries (official).