Zuby Ejiofor has triple-double as No. 15 St. John’s bounces back with 89-57 rout of Villanova

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NEW YORK — Zuby Ejiofor had 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for his first career triple-double, and No. 15 St. John’s bounced back from an embarrassing loss by blitzing Villanova 89-57 on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.

Ian Jackson added 19 points and a career-high five steals off the bench for the Red Storm (23-6, 16-2 Big East), who sprinted out to a 30-point lead in the first half and remained a half-game behind No. 6 UConn atop the conference standings.

Oziyah Sellers scored 14 in the Johnnies’ most lopsided victory over Villanova, their most frequent opponent. St. John’s leads 68-67 in a series that dates to the 1909-1910 season.

Ejiofor, who also blocked three shots, delivered the fourth known triple-double in school history and second in the past 26 years, after Kadary Richmond had one in the regular-season finale last year against Marquette.

On the sideline, 73-year-old Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino again channeled Colonel Sanders in his all-white suit and shoes as St. John’s encouraged fans to wear white for its annual “White Out” game.

St. John’s was coming off a 72-40 loss Wednesday night at rival UConn, where the Red Storm shot 20% and missed their last 24 field-goal attempts over the final 17:27 in by far their largest defeat in three seasons under Pitino.

That ended a 13-game winning streak — the longest for the program in 41 years.

Duke Brennan scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half for the Wildcats (22-7, 13-5), who had won seven of eight. They will be the No. 3 seed in the Big East Tournament.

Villanova lost starting forward Matt Hodge to a right leg injury early in the second half. After the game, coach Kevin Willard said he had no update yet.

Up next​


Villanova visits DePaul on Wednesday night looking to sweep the regular-season series.

St. John’s hosts Georgetown on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden in its final home game of the regular season, after winning their first matchup 95-83 on New Year’s Eve.

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