{"id":23837,"date":"2026-03-14T03:05:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T03:05:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/st-johns-big-east-repeat\/"},"modified":"2026-03-14T03:05:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T03:05:11","slug":"st-johns-big-east-repeat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/st-johns-big-east-repeat\/","title":{"rendered":"St. John\u2019s one win away from Big East title repeat after staving off Seton Hall – New York Post"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Lead:<\/strong> On March 13, 2026 at Madison Square Garden, St. John\u2019s 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\u2019s to a second consecutive conference title game for the first time since 1999-2000. St. John\u2019s will face the winner of No. 2 Connecticut and No. 11 Georgetown in the title-game nightcap Saturday at 6:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n
    \n
  • Final score: St. John\u2019s 78, Seton Hall 68; game played March 13, 2026 at Madison Square Garden.<\/li>\n
  • Zuby Ejiofor finished with 20 points and five rebounds and improved to 6-1 in Big East Tournament games.<\/li>\n
  • Joson Sanon contributed 15 points; Dillon Mitchell and Bryce Hopkins each scored 13 (Mitchell: six rebounds, five assists; Hopkins: seven rebounds, four assists).<\/li>\n
  • Seton Hall\u2019s 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.<\/li>\n
  • St. John\u2019s 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.<\/li>\n
  • The Red Storm have recorded five straight Big East Tournament victories by double figures and are the first St. John\u2019s team since 1999-2000 to reach back-to-back conference title games.<\/li>\n
  • 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.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Background<\/h2>\n

    St. John\u2019s entered the Big East Tournament having built one of the conference\u2019s most sustained runs this season, driven by interior scoring and consistent defense. The program\u2019s 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\u2014matchups at the Garden frequently draw passionate crowds and have postseason implications beyond the conference trophy. For St. John\u2019s, 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\u2019s national profile as the NCAA selection window approaches.<\/p>\n

    Seton Hall arrived as the fourth seed, led by point guard Adam Clark, whose playmaking has been central to the Pirates\u2019 success this season. The Pirates needed a late surge to threaten the Red Storm on Friday but fell short; analysts note that Seton Hall\u2019s offensive slump in stretches of the second half opened the door for St. John\u2019s to reassert control. The Big East Tournament format\u2014single-elimination over several nights at a neutral site\u2014rewards teams that can string together consistent defensive stretches and efficient paint offense, areas where St. John\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

    Main Event<\/h2>\n

    The game began with St. John\u2019s 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\u2019s 38 first-half points, going 13-for-22 from the floor to help the team take an eight-point lead to the break.<\/p>\n

    St. John\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

    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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

    Analysis & Implications<\/h2>\n

    St. John\u2019s strength in the paint and late-game defensive stops are the clearest drivers of its tournament run. The team\u2019s 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\u2019 scoring options. That paint-first identity gives St. John\u2019s a repeatable blueprint in the tournament: control the interior, limit opponent playmakers, and close out games with defensive possessions.<\/p>\n

    For NCAA Tournament prospects, the win strengthens St. John\u2019s r\u00e9sum\u00e9 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\u2019s case for a favorable seed. By contrast, Seton Hall\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

    Looking ahead to the title game, matchups will determine how far St. John\u2019s can extend its run. If they face Connecticut, the Red Storm will be tested by a typical UConn approach\u2014length, athleticism and halfcourt execution. Against Georgetown, the game could turn on interior battles and turnovers. St. John\u2019s depth\u2014multiple contributors who can score inside and defend\u2014gives it matchup flexibility, but the team must sustain defensive focus and free-throw discipline in a higher-pressure final.<\/p>\n

    Comparison & Data<\/h2>\n
    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Metric<\/th>\nSt. John\u2019s (First Half)<\/th>\nSeton Hall (First Half)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    Field goal percentage<\/td>\n51%<\/td>\n\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Points in the paint<\/td>\n24<\/td>\n\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Key contributors (first half)<\/td>\nSanon\/Mitchell\/Ejiofor \u2014 32 of 38 points (13-for-22)<\/td>\nClark & Staton-McCray \u2014 7 points (3-for-11)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Second-half drought<\/td>\n\u2014<\/td>\n6 points in first 11:08<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>
    Selected first-half and second-half comparative data from the March 13, 2026 game at Madison Square Garden.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    These figures underline the game\u2019s decisive phases: St. John\u2019s first-half efficiency and paint dominance set the foundation, while Seton Hall\u2019s second-half scoring drought prevented any sustained comeback. The Red Storm\u2019s balanced interior scoring and timely defensive plays created separation that Seton Hall could not overcome.<\/p>\n

    Reactions & Quotes<\/h2>\n

    Postgame responses emphasized St. John\u2019s defensive stands and clutch plays in the closing minutes. Officials, team spokespeople and local analysts highlighted the interior defense and Ejiofor\u2019s late contributions as turning points.<\/p>\n

    \n

    “St. John\u2019s advances to the Big East title game after a 78-68 win in New York.”<\/p>\n

    Big East (official release)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    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\u2019s program.<\/p>\n

    \n

    “Our guys found stops when it mattered and finished plays inside down the stretch.”<\/p>\n

    St. John\u2019s athletics (postgame summary)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    The team\u2019s postgame communication highlighted Ejiofor\u2019s scoring and the defensive plays that halted Seton Hall\u2019s rally. St. John\u2019s officials pointed to a collective effort from multiple rotation players rather than a single-game heroics narrative.<\/p>\n

    \n

    “Offensive droughts in the second half cost us opportunities to get back in rhythm.”<\/p>\n

    Seton Hall statement \/ local analysts<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    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.<\/p>\n