St. John's Wins Second Straight Big East Tournament Title

No. 13 Red Storm rout No. 6 UConn 72-52 at Madison Square Garden

Mar. 15, 2026 at 1:21am

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Zuby Ejiofor led a dominant defensive effort as No. 13 St. John's defeated No. 6 UConn 72-52 to win its second consecutive Big East Tournament championship at Madison Square Garden. Ejiofor had 7 blocks, 9 rebounds and 3 steals, while Bryce Hopkins scored 18 points for the Red Storm, who became the first team to win back-to-back Big East Tournament titles since Villanova in 2017-19.

Why it matters

St. John's continued its resurgence under Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, joining UConn in 1998-99 as the only Big East programs to win both the regular-season and tournament crowns in consecutive years. The victory cements the Red Storm's status as a national power and sets them up for a high seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

The details

St. John's jumped out to a 10-0 lead and never trailed, taking a 40-27 halftime advantage. The Red Storm extended the margin to 18 early in the second half before UConn made a run to cut the deficit to 7, but St. John's pulled away late. Ejiofor anchored a tenacious defensive effort that held the Huskies to 9 points below their previous season low.

  • St. John's won its second straight Big East Tournament title on Saturday, March 14, 2026.
  • The Red Storm became the first team to win consecutive Big East Tournament championships since Villanova in 2017-19.

The players

Zuby Ejiofor

A forward for No. 13 St. John's who had 7 blocks, 9 rebounds and 3 steals to lead the Red Storm's dominant defensive performance.

Bryce Hopkins

A forward for No. 13 St. John's who scored 18 points in the victory.

Rick Pitino

The Hall of Fame head coach of No. 13 St. John's, leading the Red Storm to their second straight Big East Tournament championship.

Tarris Reed Jr.

A player for No. 6 UConn who scored 17 points, 13 of them in the second half.

Silas Demary Jr.

The point guard for No. 6 UConn who was helped off the floor late with an apparent left ankle injury.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“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

UConn figures to be a high seed in its sixth straight NCAA Tournament, which will set a program record. St. John's is headed to consecutive NCAA Tournaments for the first time since making three straight from 1998-2000. It will be Pitino's 25th appearance, with six schools.

The takeaway

St. John's continued its rise as a national power under Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, joining an elite group of Big East programs to win both the regular-season and tournament titles in consecutive years. The Red Storm's dominant defensive performance and balanced scoring attack make them a team to watch in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.