St. John's University Athletics
Tuesday, February 4
New York, N.Y. (Madison Square Garden)
6:30 p.m.
St. John's University
vs
No. 11/11 Marquette
No. 12/10 St. John’s to Face No. 11/11 Marquette in Marquee Showdown at Madison Square Garden
2/3/2025 5:27:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Red Storm will host its first top-15 regular season matchup since Jan. 30, 1999
QUEENS, N.Y.– The No. 12/10 St. John's men's basketball team (19-3, 10-1 BIG EAST) will welcome No. 11/11 Marquette (18-4, 9-2 BIG EAST) for its first regular season top-15 showdown in 26 years on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. inside Madison Square Garden.
The Red Storm sits alone at the top of the BIG EAST standings with the Golden Eagles trailing by just a single-game heading into Tuesday's marquee matchup. With both squads ranked inside the top-15 in the Associated Press poll, the contest will mark St. John's first regular season top-15 tilt since Jan. 30, 1999, when it welcomed then-No. 1 and eventual National Champion UConn to The World's Most Famous Arena.
St. John's will host "First Responders Night" in honor of all of those, who work tirelessly on the front lines everyday. Our nation's colors will be presented by the FDNY prior to Tuesday's game. To purchase tickets to the top-15 battle click here, visit RedStormTix.comor call the box office at 1-888-GO-STORM.
The meeting will be nationally broadcast on FS1 with Jason Benetti and Bill Raftery on the call from Midtown Manhattan. Live stats will be available on RedStormSports.com.
An audio broadcast of the game on the LEARFIELD Red Storm Sports Network with John Minko and Brandon Tierney will also be available on a variety of platforms including the Varsity Network App, TuneIn Radio, RedStormSports.com and the St. John's Red Storm mobile app. The radio broadcast can also be heard on SiriusXM radio channel 162 and via the SiriusXM App.
The Red Storm reached its highest Associated Press poll ranking since 2000 on Monday, checking in at No. 12 in the AP poll. The squad also cracked the top-10 in the USA Today Coaches' poll coming in at No. 10, for the first time since 1999. reached its highest Associated Press poll ranking since 2000 on Monday, checking in at No. 12 in the AP poll. The Red Storm cracked the top-10 in the USA Today Coaches' poll coming in at No. 10, for the first time since 1999.
The Johnnies have been firing on all cylinders capturing eight consecutive contests, dating back to the turn of the New Year. The eight-game win streak surpassed its longest regular season league streak since the 1991-92 season and will look to get to nine straight for the first time since the 1984-85 campaign. St. John's has won 14 of its last 15 games, its highest win total in a 15-game span since the 2018-19 season, when it started the year at 14-1 and made its last NCAA Tournament appearance.
The Red Storm has continued to dominate in the Big Apple boasting a perfect 14-0 record at home this season, which ranks the fourth longest active streak in NCAA Division I. The Johnnies have won 16 consecutive regular season home contests, the most for the Johnnies since they won a program record 30 from Dec. 1, 1985, to Feb. 2, 1987.
The Johnnies are coming off a rollercoaster 68-66 win over Providence at MSG on Saturday. After the Red Storm led by as many as 19 in the second half, the Friars rallied all the way back to tie the score with 0:33 to play. On the final possession, Kadary Richmond rose up and knocked down the game-winning jumper with :03 left on the clock. The victory marked the second time this season St. John's beat Providence on a game-winner in the final three seconds after Zuby Ejiofor nailed a floater as time expired to earn a 72-70 win in Rhode Island on Dec. 20, 2024.
Richmond's late-game heroics was part of his best performance in a St. John's uniform on Saturday. The graduate student exploded for a season-high 24 points, eight assists, eight rebounds and three steals in the win over the Friars. Over his last five games, the Brooklyn native is logging 15.6 points, 5.6 assists, 5.6 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game. The team captain is 10 rebounds shy of reaching 700 for his collegiate career and would become the only active player in NCAA Division I to record more than 1,500 points, 600 assists and 700 boards. Richmond was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for the second straight week.
RJ Luis Jr. guides the Johnnies offensively ranking fourth in the league averaging 17.5 points per game. The junior has reached double-digits in scoring in 25 of his last 27 appearances and is pulling down 7.5 boards per game over his last four outings. The Miami, Fla., native was named to the Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List on Monday.
Ejiofor has notched 14-straight double-digit scoring performances and ranks second in the league and top-25 in the country in field goal percentage (57.2%). The big man also ranks top-five in the conference in rebounds (8.1), made free throws (89), blocks per game (1.73) and double-doubles (6).
The turnover battle will be a deciding factor in Tuesday's game as both teams rank top-11 nationally in turnover margin. Marquette leads the country at plus-7.4 while St. John's checks in at 11th at plus-4.6. The Red Storm rank 12th nationally I turnovers forced per game at 16.0 and have caused four opponents into 20-plus giveaways this season, including Providence (20) its last time out.
While the Golden Eagles have won each of the last six meetings, the series has been tight as three of the last four matchups have been decided by just a single possession. Marquette leads the all-time series, 29-16, as St. John's looks for its first win over its conference foe since Jan. 31, 2021.
Head Coach Shaka Smart has the Golden Eagles rolling with an 18-4 overall record and a 9-2 mark in conference competition. Marquette is coming off a setback on Saturday night as it was overwhelmed by No. 25/24 UConn at Fiserv Forum, 77-69. The squad holds a 40-11 record in BIG EAST competition since the beginning of the 2022-23 season.
Marquette ranks among the top teams nationally in fewest turnovers (1st at 8.9), turnover margin (1st at +7.5), steals (4th at 10.2), assist-to-turnover ratio (15th at 1.6) and fastbreak points (39th at 13.9).
Kam Jones has emerged as one of the best players in the country for the Golden Eagles during his senior campaign. The prolific scoring guard ranks second the in the BIG EAST averaging 19.0 points per game. The Memphis, Tenn., native additionally ranks top-20 nationally in assists per game (6.2), assist-to-turnover ratio (+3.6), field goals (169) and triple-doubles (1).
In addition to Jones, Marquette has three other players averaging double-figures in scoring in David Joplin (14.5), Stevie Mitchell (11.9) and Chase Ross (11.3). Mitchell leads the league and ranks sixth in NCAA Division I with 2.7 steals per game.
Following Tuesday's battle, the Red Storm will meet the two-time defending National Champions in No. 19/18 UConn for a Friday showdown on FOX at 8 p.m. from Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Conn.
The Red Storm sits alone at the top of the BIG EAST standings with the Golden Eagles trailing by just a single-game heading into Tuesday's marquee matchup. With both squads ranked inside the top-15 in the Associated Press poll, the contest will mark St. John's first regular season top-15 tilt since Jan. 30, 1999, when it welcomed then-No. 1 and eventual National Champion UConn to The World's Most Famous Arena.
St. John's will host "First Responders Night" in honor of all of those, who work tirelessly on the front lines everyday. Our nation's colors will be presented by the FDNY prior to Tuesday's game. To purchase tickets to the top-15 battle click here, visit RedStormTix.comor call the box office at 1-888-GO-STORM.
The meeting will be nationally broadcast on FS1 with Jason Benetti and Bill Raftery on the call from Midtown Manhattan. Live stats will be available on RedStormSports.com.
An audio broadcast of the game on the LEARFIELD Red Storm Sports Network with John Minko and Brandon Tierney will also be available on a variety of platforms including the Varsity Network App, TuneIn Radio, RedStormSports.com and the St. John's Red Storm mobile app. The radio broadcast can also be heard on SiriusXM radio channel 162 and via the SiriusXM App.
The Red Storm reached its highest Associated Press poll ranking since 2000 on Monday, checking in at No. 12 in the AP poll. The squad also cracked the top-10 in the USA Today Coaches' poll coming in at No. 10, for the first time since 1999. reached its highest Associated Press poll ranking since 2000 on Monday, checking in at No. 12 in the AP poll. The Red Storm cracked the top-10 in the USA Today Coaches' poll coming in at No. 10, for the first time since 1999.
The Johnnies have been firing on all cylinders capturing eight consecutive contests, dating back to the turn of the New Year. The eight-game win streak surpassed its longest regular season league streak since the 1991-92 season and will look to get to nine straight for the first time since the 1984-85 campaign. St. John's has won 14 of its last 15 games, its highest win total in a 15-game span since the 2018-19 season, when it started the year at 14-1 and made its last NCAA Tournament appearance.
The Red Storm has continued to dominate in the Big Apple boasting a perfect 14-0 record at home this season, which ranks the fourth longest active streak in NCAA Division I. The Johnnies have won 16 consecutive regular season home contests, the most for the Johnnies since they won a program record 30 from Dec. 1, 1985, to Feb. 2, 1987.
The Johnnies are coming off a rollercoaster 68-66 win over Providence at MSG on Saturday. After the Red Storm led by as many as 19 in the second half, the Friars rallied all the way back to tie the score with 0:33 to play. On the final possession, Kadary Richmond rose up and knocked down the game-winning jumper with :03 left on the clock. The victory marked the second time this season St. John's beat Providence on a game-winner in the final three seconds after Zuby Ejiofor nailed a floater as time expired to earn a 72-70 win in Rhode Island on Dec. 20, 2024.
Richmond's late-game heroics was part of his best performance in a St. John's uniform on Saturday. The graduate student exploded for a season-high 24 points, eight assists, eight rebounds and three steals in the win over the Friars. Over his last five games, the Brooklyn native is logging 15.6 points, 5.6 assists, 5.6 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game. The team captain is 10 rebounds shy of reaching 700 for his collegiate career and would become the only active player in NCAA Division I to record more than 1,500 points, 600 assists and 700 boards. Richmond was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for the second straight week.
RJ Luis Jr. guides the Johnnies offensively ranking fourth in the league averaging 17.5 points per game. The junior has reached double-digits in scoring in 25 of his last 27 appearances and is pulling down 7.5 boards per game over his last four outings. The Miami, Fla., native was named to the Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List on Monday.
Ejiofor has notched 14-straight double-digit scoring performances and ranks second in the league and top-25 in the country in field goal percentage (57.2%). The big man also ranks top-five in the conference in rebounds (8.1), made free throws (89), blocks per game (1.73) and double-doubles (6).
The turnover battle will be a deciding factor in Tuesday's game as both teams rank top-11 nationally in turnover margin. Marquette leads the country at plus-7.4 while St. John's checks in at 11th at plus-4.6. The Red Storm rank 12th nationally I turnovers forced per game at 16.0 and have caused four opponents into 20-plus giveaways this season, including Providence (20) its last time out.
While the Golden Eagles have won each of the last six meetings, the series has been tight as three of the last four matchups have been decided by just a single possession. Marquette leads the all-time series, 29-16, as St. John's looks for its first win over its conference foe since Jan. 31, 2021.
Head Coach Shaka Smart has the Golden Eagles rolling with an 18-4 overall record and a 9-2 mark in conference competition. Marquette is coming off a setback on Saturday night as it was overwhelmed by No. 25/24 UConn at Fiserv Forum, 77-69. The squad holds a 40-11 record in BIG EAST competition since the beginning of the 2022-23 season.
Marquette ranks among the top teams nationally in fewest turnovers (1st at 8.9), turnover margin (1st at +7.5), steals (4th at 10.2), assist-to-turnover ratio (15th at 1.6) and fastbreak points (39th at 13.9).
Kam Jones has emerged as one of the best players in the country for the Golden Eagles during his senior campaign. The prolific scoring guard ranks second the in the BIG EAST averaging 19.0 points per game. The Memphis, Tenn., native additionally ranks top-20 nationally in assists per game (6.2), assist-to-turnover ratio (+3.6), field goals (169) and triple-doubles (1).
In addition to Jones, Marquette has three other players averaging double-figures in scoring in David Joplin (14.5), Stevie Mitchell (11.9) and Chase Ross (11.3). Mitchell leads the league and ranks sixth in NCAA Division I with 2.7 steals per game.
Following Tuesday's battle, the Red Storm will meet the two-time defending National Champions in No. 19/18 UConn for a Friday showdown on FOX at 8 p.m. from Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Conn.
Players Mentioned
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