St. John's Routs Villanova 89-57 at MSG

Five Takeaways from the Red Storm's Dominant Victory

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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St. John's bounced back from a loss to UConn with an impressive 89-57 rout of Villanova at Madison Square Garden. The game featured strong performances from the Red Storm's backcourt, led by Ian Jackson's 19 points and 5 steals, as well as a triple-double from center Zuby Ejiofor. The victory puts St. John's back on track after a disappointing loss.

Why it matters

This win is a significant bounce-back for St. John's, who were looking to prove they could respond to a tough loss. The dominant performance against a ranked Villanova team shows the Red Storm's potential and puts them back in the conversation as a top team in the Big East.

The details

St. John's came out firing, scoring 48 points in the first half and shooting 66% from the field to start the game. The Red Storm's defense was also stifling, holding Villanova to just 7-of-27 shooting in the first half and forcing 8 turnovers. Ian Jackson led the way with 11 first-half points, while Zuby Ejiofor recorded a triple-double with 16 points, 10 assists and 12 rebounds.

  • The loss to UConn on Feb. 25 was in the rear-view mirror for St. John's.
  • St. John's reached the 41-point mark 17:43 into the contest, the exact point at which they failed to make a field goal against UConn.

The players

Rick Pitino

The head coach of the St. John's basketball team.

Dylan Darling

The starting point guard for St. John's, who provided strong playmaking and defense.

Ian Jackson

The former North Carolina transfer who led St. John's in scoring with 19 points and added 5 steals.

Zuby Ejiofor

The St. John's center who recorded a triple-double with 16 points, 10 assists and 12 rebounds.

Kevin Willard

The head coach of the Villanova basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“Darling is a pest. Everyone probably looks at him like he's not a good player, but he really sets the tone for them.”

— Kevin Willard, Villanova Head Coach (torchonline.com)

“You saw what great players do with a loss. They bring it and get a great win. It's pure class.”

— Rick Pitino, St. John's Head Coach (torchonline.com)

“Everytime he made a mistake tonight he stole the ball right back. He wants to score every time, but he's becoming a better basketball player. He's coming on no question. In fairness to Ian, he was never a PG. He was great tonight.”

— Rick Pitino, St. John's Head Coach (torchonline.com)

“To win in the NCAA tournament, you need a great backcourt. If we can keep improving, we will be tough.”

— Rick Pitino, St. John's Head Coach (torchonline.com)

“I get along with every player that works hard. When you put my jersey on, you're here to learn and bring it every single day. That's Zuby.”

— Rick Pitino, St. John's Head Coach (torchonline.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.