St. John’s Red Storm Celebrate Big East Championship Victory
March 15, 2025; New York, NY, USA – The St. John’s Red Storm basketball team made history at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night by claiming the Big East Tournament title with a commanding 82-66 win over the Creighton Bluejays. It was a momentous occasion that hadn’t been seen since the turn of the millennium in 2000, and the energy in the arena was electric as the Red Storm players cut down the nets in celebration.
The standout performance of the night came from guard RJ Luis Jr., who took the game by storm with an impressive 29-point display, including a staggering 27 points in the second half alone. His partner in crime, Kadary Richmond, provided crucial support with a double-double performance of 12 points and 11 rebounds, solidifying their dynamic duo status on the court.
Head coach Rick Pitino, in just his second season with the program, etched his name in the record books by leading St. John’s to their first outright Big East regular season title since 1985. Pitino’s coaching prowess was duly recognized with the Big East Coach of the Year award, capping off a remarkable season that saw the team finish with an impressive 29-4 record.
The turning point in the game came when Pitino made the strategic decision to introduce a full-court press midway through the first half. As Creighton began to falter under the pressure, the Red Storm capitalized on their mistakes, ramping up their aggression and physicality to seize control of the game and leave their opponents trailing in their wake.
The atmosphere in the arena was electric, with the crowd serving as the sixth man for the Red Storm. The deafening roar of the fans seemed to fuel Luis and Richmond, who elevated their game to new heights in response to the energy in the building. The second half belonged to St. John’s, as they outscored Creighton 57-38 to secure their victory in style.
Zuby Ejiofor, fresh off a stellar performance in the semifinals against Marquette, once again proved his worth in the paint with an 18-point contribution, 11 of which came in the crucial second half. His dominance in the key was a key factor in St. John’s ability to overcome the Bluejays and secure the championship.
Despite facing foul trouble in the first half, St. John’s managed to stay within striking distance of Creighton, trailing by just three points at halftime. The team committed 16 fouls throughout the game, but Creighton’s struggles at the free-throw line, where they made just 38% of their attempts, helped keep the Red Storm in contention.
One of the standout aspects of St. John’s performance was their sharpshooting from beyond the arc, where they shot an impressive 50%. This marked a significant improvement from their regular-season three-point shooting percentage of 29.86%, highlighting the team’s ability to rise to the occasion on the big stage.
With the Big East title in hand, St. John’s now sets its sights on the NCAA Tournament, where they aim to secure a favorable seed and make a deep run starting on Thursday, March 20. The team’s fate will be decided on Selection Sunday, adding another layer of anticipation to their remarkable season.
For more in-depth coverage of St. John’s journey to the Big East Championship, be sure to visit AMNY.com for the latest updates and analysis.
