Zuby Ejiofor delivered an early Christmas present to St. John’s in the form of a buzzer-beating shot to keep the Red Storm’s winning streak alive.
St. John’s (10-2) beat Providence at the horn back on Dec. 20 to win its fifth straight game and move to 2-0 in the Big East. Back on its campus in New York, St. John’s will face Delaware on Saturday for one last tune-up before returning to conference action.
In the Red Storm’s first true road game of the season, Providence led most of the way before Ejiofor and RJ Luis Jr. steered the comeback. Ejiofor made a jumper in the lane in the final second to secure a 72-70 win.
Coach Rick Pitino saw evidence that his team had grown from the start of the season. The Red Storm’s two losses came on a double-overtime buzzer-beater against Baylor and by three points versus Georgia.
“I think they’re mentally maturing,” Pitino told the New York Post. “Three weeks ago, with missing all those free throws, all those shots, we lose by 12 to 16 points. But they’re maturing mentally and getting tougher because (that night) we didn’t have it offensively, and they still found a way to win on the road in a tough environment.”
Ejiofor had 19 points and 10 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. On a team stacked with talent, he and Luis have been the main catalysts. Luis averages 17.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, and Ejiofor provides 14.6 points and a team-best 7.8 rebounds per contest.
Ejiofor’s game-winner came on an offensive board and second-chance look.
“My philosophy is, and Coach says, every shot is essentially my rebound,” Ejiofor said. “I have pride in getting my team a second chance, and that’s exactly what I did.”
Delaware (7-5) has had a quiet month, with two of its three wins coming against non-Division I teams. But its other win in that time was a 93-80 romp against rival Delaware State on Dec. 3.
That night, the Blue Hens shot a red-hot 17-of-31 from 3-point range. The 17 makes were one shy of tying the program record. Cavan Reilly (five 3-pointers) led them that night with 20 points, but three other starters also buried three triples.
“That’s what I envisioned out of this group,” coach Martin Ingelsby told the Delaware News Journal, “to have multiple weapons.”
Delaware would love to rediscover that shooting touch. It made just 6 of 21 shots from deep in a 72-64 loss to Saint Peter’s on Dec. 20.
John Camden paces Delaware with 14.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Four other players average double-figure scoring: Niels Lane (13.7), Reilly (12.9), Erik Timko (12.4) and Izaiah Pasha (10.7).
–Field Level Media
