Pitino climbs career wins list as No. 17 St. John's fends off Xavier 87-82 in overtime

Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino passes Roy Williams for third place in Division I history with 904 career wins.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Zuby Ejiofor scored six of his 25 points in overtime as No. 17 St. John's outlasted pesky Xavier 87-82 at Madison Square Garden for its 10th consecutive victory. Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino earned his 904th career win, passing Roy Williams for third place in Division I history behind Mike Krzyzewski and Jim Boeheim.

Why it matters

Pitino's milestone victory highlights his storied coaching career, while St. John's continues its strong season as a top-ranked Big East team battling for conference supremacy.

The details

Ejiofor led St. John's with 25 points, including six in overtime, while Bryce Hopkins added 19 points and nine rebounds. St. John's went 28-for-41 (68%) at the free-throw line, its most foul shots since 2011. Xavier's Tre Carroll had 21 points and eight rebounds, but the Musketeers have lost five of six and eight of 11 overall.

  • The game was played on Monday, February 10, 2026.
  • Pitino earned his 904th career win, passing Roy Williams for third place in Division I history.

The players

Rick Pitino

A Hall of Fame college basketball coach who is now in third place on the Division I career wins list with 904 victories.

Zuby Ejiofor

The leading scorer for No. 17 St. John's, pouring in 25 points including six in overtime to lead the Red Storm to victory.

Bryce Hopkins

A key contributor for St. John's, scoring 19 points and grabbing nine rebounds in the win.

Tre Carroll

The leading scorer for Xavier with 21 points and eight rebounds, though the Musketeers have struggled of late.

Richard Pitino

The first-year head coach of Xavier and the son of Rick Pitino, who defeated his team for the second time in 17 days.

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What’s next

St. John's visits Providence on Saturday looking to avenge its last loss, while Xavier hosts Marquette on Saturday after dropping their first meeting this season.

The takeaway

Rick Pitino's milestone victory highlights his legendary coaching career, while St. John's continues to establish itself as a top contender in the competitive Big East conference.