UConn Edges St. John's in Big East Showdown

Huskies hold off Red Storm in high-scoring affair

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The sixth-ranked Connecticut Huskies defeated the 15th-ranked St. John's Red Storm 76-72 in a Big East clash at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford. The Huskies, who led for most of the game, held off a late surge by the Red Storm to secure the victory and maintain their position atop the conference standings.

Why it matters

This game had major implications in the Big East race, as both teams entered the contest with 15-2 conference records. The win keeps UConn in sole possession of first place, while St. John's falls a game back despite its 13-game winning streak.

The details

UConn was led by guard Solo Ball, who scored a game-high 16 points. The Huskies also got double-digit contributions from Adama Sanogo and Jordan Hawkins. For St. John's, Zuby Eliofor poured in a team-high 15 points, but the Red Storm couldn't overcome UConn's balanced scoring attack.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
  • UConn and St. John's previously met on February 6, with the Red Storm winning 81-72.

The players

Solo Ball

A junior guard for the Connecticut Huskies who led all scorers with 16 points.

Zuby Eliofor

A senior forward for the St. John's Red Storm who scored a team-high 15 points in the loss.

Adama Sanogo

A junior center for the Connecticut Huskies who contributed 14 points and 8 rebounds.

Jordan Hawkins

A sophomore guard for the Connecticut Huskies who added 13 points in the win.

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What they’re saying

“We knew this was going to be a tough game against a very good St. John's team. I'm proud of the way our guys battled and made the plays we needed to come out on top.”

— Dan Hurley, Head Coach, Connecticut Huskies (UConn Athletics)

“We had our chances, but UConn made the winning plays down the stretch. Credit to them for finding a way to get it done on their home floor.”

— Mike Anderson, Head Coach, St. John's Red Storm (St. John's Athletics)

What’s next

The Huskies will look to build on this win as they continue their push for a Big East regular season title, while the Red Storm will try to rebound and get back in the conference race.

The takeaway

This hard-fought battle between two of the Big East's top teams lived up to the hype, with UConn's depth and experience ultimately proving to be the difference in a close, high-scoring affair.