No. 17 St. John's Holds Off Marquette for 12th Straight Win

Red Storm remain atop Big East standings after narrow road victory

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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No. 17 St. John's extended its winning streak to 12 games with a narrow 76-70 victory over Marquette on Wednesday. The win gives the Red Storm sole possession of first place in the Big East after conference rival Creighton upset No. 5 UConn. Bryce Hopkins led St. John's with 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Zuby Ejiofor made an impact on defense with 3 blocks and 6 rebounds.

Why it matters

This hard-fought win on the road keeps St. John's atop the Big East standings, setting up a highly anticipated rematch with Creighton on Saturday at Madison Square Garden. The Red Storm’s 12-game winning streak has them firmly in the NCAA Tournament conversation as March Madness approaches.

The details

In a defensive battle, St. John’s made 67% of its free throw attempts and forced Marquette into 10 turnovers. The Red Storm also had a slight edge in 3-point shooting, going 8-for-25 compared to Marquette’s 29% from deep. Freshman guard Nigel James Jr. helped Marquette mount a second-half comeback, but Ejiofor’s rim protection and key baskets from Oziyah Sellers and Joson Sanon allowed St. John’s to hold on for the victory.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

The players

Bryce Hopkins

A senior forward for St. John's who led the team with 23 points and 10 rebounds.

Zuby Ejiofor

A senior big man for St. John's who had 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks to anchor the Red Storm's defense.

Nigel James Jr.

A freshman guard for Marquette who helped spark a second-half comeback for the Golden Eagles.

Rick Pitino

The head coach of the St. John's Red Storm, who guided his team to the narrow victory.

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What they’re saying

“When momentum swung their way, my message to the guys was we've been there before. James is tough to guard because he's not going to stop until he gets to the rim.”

— Rick Pitino, Head Coach, St. John's Red Storm

What’s next

St. John's will host Creighton on Saturday, February 22nd in a rematch of the top two teams in the Big East standings.

The takeaway

St. John's continued its impressive run of form, extending its winning streak to 12 games and maintaining its hold on first place in the Big East. The Red Storm’s defensive intensity and ability to make plays down the stretch proved to be the difference in this hard-fought road victory over Marquette.