St. John's Upsets No. 3 UConn at MSG

Red Storm force 15 turnovers, get dominant performances from Ejiofor and Darling

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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In a primetime matchup at Madison Square Garden, St. John's defeated No. 3 UConn 81-72 behind a stifling full-court press that forced 15 turnovers and strong performances from center Zuby Ejiofor and point guard Dylan Darling. The win extends St. John's winning streak to nine games as they continue to prove themselves as one of the best teams in the Big East.

Why it matters

This victory over a top-3 ranked UConn team solidifies St. John's as a legitimate contender in the Big East and national title picture. The Red Storm's aggressive defensive pressure and balanced scoring attack showed they can compete with the conference's elite, boosting their NCAA Tournament resume.

The details

St. John's applied relentless full-court pressure, forcing 15 UConn turnovers and scoring 20 points off those miscues. Center Zuby Ejiofor dominated the paint with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists, while point guard Dylan Darling provided a crucial second-half spark with 9 of his 11 points. The Red Storm's frontcourt trio of Ejiofor, Dillon Mitchell and Bryce Hopkins combined for 50 of the team's 81 points.

  • The game was played on Friday, February 7, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The players

Zuby Ejiofor

The preseason Big East Player of the Year, Ejiofor is St. John's star center who dominated the paint against UConn with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists.

Dylan Darling

The junior point guard provided a crucial second-half boost for St. John's, scoring 9 of his 11 points after halftime to help the Red Storm pull away.

Rick Pitino

The veteran head coach of St. John's, Pitino praised his team's defensive intensity and hustle in the win over the Huskies.

Dan Hurley

The head coach of UConn, Hurley acknowledged the strength of St. John's frontcourt and the impact of Darling running the point for the Red Storm.

Silas Demary Jr.

The Georgia transfer led UConn in scoring with 18 points but was forced into 9 turnovers by St. John's stifling defense.

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What they’re saying

“The press wears you out, but the guys did an amazing job rebounding, with assists, with the press. I'm proud of them.”

— Rick Pitino, Head Coach, St. John's (Torch Online)

“He's a great point guard. To do whatever he does, he has made a huge difference. His ability, the paint, the middy, the lefty drive, he made things tough on our guards.”

— Dan Hurley, Head Coach, UConn (Torch Online)

“What Bryce, Zuby and Dillon have been doing in the frontcourt has been special.”

— Rick Pitino, Head Coach, St. John's (Torch Online)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This victory over a top-3 UConn team shows that St. John's is a legitimate national title contender, with their stifling defense, dominant frontcourt, and clutch play from Dylan Darling proving they can beat any team in the country on a given night.