Zuby Ejiofor scored 15 points and added nine rebounds Saturday night for host St. John’s, which outlasted Ole Miss 63-58 in a defensive battle in New York.
Each team set a season high with 20 turnovers while shooting a combined 35.2% (37 of 105), including just 15.8% (6 of 38) from 3-point land. Ole Miss finished 2 of 16 from beyond the arc — its fewest made 3-pointers since Jan. 3, 2023, when the Rebels were 2 of 24 in an 84-62 loss to Alabama.
Bryce Hopkins had eight points while Dylan Darling, Joson Sanon, Oziyah Sellers, Dillon Mitchell and Ian Jackson all had seven points apiece for St. John’s (5-3), which has alternated wins with losses over its last five games.
The 63 points were the fewest for St. John’s since a 57-56 loss to Creighton last Dec. 31.
Malik Dia (18 points, 10 rebounds) posted a double-double while Ilias Kamardine finished with 16 points for Ole Miss (5-4), which has lost four straight. Corey Chest added 10 rebounds.
The 58 points were the fewest for Ole Miss since a 62-57 loss to Auburn in the Southeastern Conference Tournament on March 14.
Sellers’ jumper put St. John’s ahead for good at 9-7 with 13:45 left and helped fuel an 8-0 run. Ole Miss pulled within 12-11 with 11:48 remaining before the Red Storm mounted a 21-7 run that ended with Jackson’s layup giving the hosts their biggest lead at 33-18 with 3:59 left.
The Rebels, who were 2 of 8 from the field with six turnovers during the Red Storm surge, scored the final seven points of the half but committed two turnovers in the final minute.
The teams traded runs and corresponding ice-cold stretches throughout the second half.
Ejiofor had six points during a 15-6 run that gave St. John’s a 51-37 lead with 8:06 left. Ole Miss, which was 1-for-8 with three turnovers during the Red Storm rally, scored the next 10 points while the hosts missed four shots and two free throws and turned the ball over once.
Darling’s layup with four minutes left was the final basket for St, John’s. Ole Miss got within three points twice thereafter but was 3 of 7 from the field while committing two turnovers.
–Field Level Media
