St. John's holds off UConn's late rally as Rick Pitino moves to third on NCAA DI wins list

The Red Storm snap the Huskies' 18-game winning streak with an 81-72 victory at Madison Square Garden.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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In a Big East battle at Madison Square Garden, No. 22 St. John's defeated No. 3 UConn 81-72 on Friday night. Zuby Ejiofor had 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Red Storm, who won their ninth straight game and snapped the Huskies' 18-game winning streak. The win moves St. John's (18-5, 11-1) within a half-game of first-place UConn (22-2, 12-1) in the Big East standings.

Why it matters

This game was a marquee matchup between two of the top teams in the Big East, with major implications for the conference standings and NCAA Tournament seeding. St. John's has now beaten UConn three straight times, a feat they hadn't accomplished since the 1999-2000 season.

The details

Dillon Mitchell scored 15 points for St. John's, including a key tip-in late in the second half to put the Red Storm up by 6 points. UConn made a late run to cut the deficit to 5, but St. John's was able to seal the victory at the free throw line. The win was the 903rd career victory for St. John's coach Rick Pitino, tying him for third on the all-time NCAA Division I wins list.

  • The last time St. John's beat a top-3 team at Madison Square Garden was in 2011, when they knocked off No. 3 Duke.
  • The rematch between St. John's and UConn is scheduled for February 25.

The players

Zuby Ejiofor

A key player for St. John's, scoring 21 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the win.

Dillon Mitchell

Scored 15 points for St. John's, including a crucial tip-in late in the second half.

Rick Pitino

The head coach of St. John's, who earned his 903rd career victory, tying him for third on the all-time NCAA Division I wins list.

Dan Hurley

The head coach of UConn, whose team had its 18-game winning streak snapped by St. John's.

Silas Demary Jr.

Scored 18 points for UConn in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The rematch between St. John's and UConn is scheduled for February 25.

The takeaway

This game showcased the strength of the Big East conference, with two top-25 teams battling it out in a high-intensity matchup at Madison Square Garden. The win for St. John's over the highly-ranked Huskies solidifies their status as a contender in the conference and could have major implications for their NCAA Tournament seeding.