St. John's men's basketball routs Villanova 89-57

Red Storm bounce back from blowout loss with dominant performance

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The St. John's men's basketball team bounced back from a 32-point loss to Connecticut with an impressive 89-57 rout over Villanova. The Red Storm had great ball movement and high-percentage shot creation, led by Zuby Ejiofor's triple-double and strong performances from Ian Jackson and Oziyah Sellers.

Why it matters

This game highlighted St. John's ability to recover from a tough loss and play at a high level, showcasing their potential heading into the postseason. The team's unselfish play and crowd-energizing performance at Madison Square Garden demonstrated their growth and ability to rise to the occasion.

The details

St. John's jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, leading by as many as 25 points in the first half. The Red Storm's defense was stifling, forcing Villanova into taking poor shots, while their offense was efficient, with 23 assists on 28 made field goals. Zuby Ejiofor recorded a triple-double with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, while Ian Jackson scored 19 points and Oziyah Sellers added 14 points.

  • The game was played on February 28, 2026.
  • St. John's had lost to Connecticut 72-40 just three days earlier on February 25, 2026.

The players

Zuby Ejiofor

A key player for St. John's who recorded a triple-double in the game with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists.

Ian Jackson

A guard for St. John's who led the team in scoring with 19 points.

Oziyah Sellers

A guard for St. John's who scored 14 points and shot efficiently from the field.

Rick Pitino

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

Bryce Lindsay

A player for Villanova who scored the first points of the game with a layup.

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What they’re saying

“You have to have outstanding guards to be successful in the NCAA tournament.”

— Rick Pitino, Head Coach (Post-game press conference)

“I never thought of it that way.”

— Rick Pitino, Head Coach (Pre-game press conference)

What’s next

St. John's will play their final regular season game on March 5th against Seton Hall, before competing in the Big East tournament.

The takeaway

St. John's demonstrated their ability to bounce back from a tough loss and play at a high level, showcasing their unselfish play, efficient offense, and stifling defense. The team's performance energized the Madison Square Garden crowd and highlighted their potential heading into the postseason.