St. John's Cruises Past Creighton for 13th Straight Win

Red Storm's longest winning streak in 41 years extends lead atop Big East standings

Feb. 21, 2026 at 10:34pm

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No. 17 St. John's dominated Creighton 81-52 on Saturday, extending their winning streak to 13 games - the program's longest in 41 years. Bryce Hopkins led the way with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Dylan Darling scored 17 points off the bench. The Red Storm's stifling defense held Creighton to just 32% shooting in the blowout victory at Madison Square Garden.

Why it matters

St. John's has been one of the biggest surprises in college basketball this season, surging to the top of the Big East standings with their impressive 13-game winning streak. This win over Creighton further cements their status as a legitimate national title contender and puts them in prime position to capture their second consecutive Big East championship.

The details

St. John's jumped out to an early 8-0 lead and never looked back, leading by as many as 31 points in the second half. The Red Storm's defense was the key, holding Creighton to a season-low 0.7 points per possession and forcing 18 turnovers. Zuby Ejiofor and Dillon Mitchell also made major contributions, with Ejiofor scoring 15 points and Mitchell providing 10 rebounds, seven assists and zero turnovers.

  • St. John's hasn't won 13 in a row since a 19-game run in 1984-85.
  • The Red Storm's 13-game winning streak is the program's longest in 41 years.

The players

Bryce Hopkins

A key player for St. John's, scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the win over Creighton.

Dylan Darling

Came off the bench to score 17 points for the Red Storm, providing a big boost with starting guard Ian Jackson sidelined.

Zuby Ejiofor

Scored 15 points and has been a standout performer for St. John's all season long.

Dillon Mitchell

A versatile senior forward who had 10 rebounds, seven assists and zero turnovers in the win.

Rick Pitino

The head coach of St. John's, praised his team's defensive effort and attention to detail in the blowout victory.

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What they’re saying

“This was the best defense we played all season. The guys were totally locked in because of their respect for Creighton and their ability to score.”

— Rick Pitino, Head Coach, St. John's

“I told him in the handshake line: I think that Darling's changed their team in a lot of ways the last six weeks. There's a confidence about him and there's a tenacity and toughness defensively.”

— Greg McDermott, Head Coach, Creighton

“He's a summa cum laude basketball player. If you have to get a rebound in the game, he's the guy that's going to get it. ... He's just a great basketball player.”

— Rick Pitino, Head Coach, St. John's

What’s next

St. John's will visit UConn on Wednesday night for a highly anticipated rematch between the top two teams in the Big East. A win would give the Red Storm a 14-game winning streak in conference play, matching the program record.

The takeaway

St. John's has emerged as a legitimate national title contender this season, riding a dominant 13-game winning streak that includes blowout victories over quality opponents like Creighton. Their stifling defense and balanced scoring attack have them poised to capture another Big East championship and make a deep NCAA Tournament run.