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No. 17 St. John's Tops Marquette 76-70 to Take Big East Lead
Red Storm rally from six-point deficit in second half to earn 12th straight victory
Published on Feb. 23, 2026
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Bryce Hopkins scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as No. 17 St. John's defeated Marquette 76-70 on Wednesday night to earn its 12th consecutive victory and move into first place in the Big East standings. The Red Storm rallied from a six-point second-half deficit, outscoring Marquette 26-14 down the stretch to secure the win.
Why it matters
St. John's victory over Marquette puts them atop the Big East standings, setting up a potential conference title showdown with No. 5 UConn, who they defeated earlier this month. The Red Storm have now won 11 straight Big East road games dating back to last season, showcasing their ability to win tough games away from home.
The details
After trailing by 11 points, Marquette scored the final basket of the first half and the first 11 points of the second half to take a 56-50 lead with 11:55 remaining. But St. John's responded with nine straight points to tie the game, and Bryce Hopkins scored the next five points to put the Red Storm back in front for good. Marquette freshman Nigel James Jr. made a three-point play to cut the deficit to 72-70 with 27.5 seconds left, but St. John's sealed the victory with four free throws in the final seconds.
- St. John's and UConn will meet on February 25 in a potential Big East title showdown.
- St. John's has now won 11 straight Big East road games dating back to last season.
The players
Bryce Hopkins
A standout sophomore forward for St. John's who led the team with 23 points and 10 rebounds in the victory over Marquette.
Nigel James Jr.
A freshman guard for Marquette who scored 18 of his 25 points in the second half to lead the Golden Eagles' comeback effort.
What’s next
St. John's will host Creighton on Saturday, while Marquette will visit Georgetown on Tuesday. The Red Storm's next big test will come on February 25 when they host UConn in a potential Big East title showdown.
The takeaway
St. John's impressive 12-game winning streak and victory over Marquette to take over the Big East lead demonstrates the team's ability to win tough road games and mount comebacks. This sets up an intriguing conference title race between the Red Storm and UConn, who the Johnnies have already defeated once this season.
