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Second Chance Points Doom Musketeers against SJU
By
Musketeer Madness,
1/7/2025
St. John’s outlasted Xavier 82-72 to improve to 13-3 overall and 4-1 in Big East play. The Musketeers dropped to 9-7 on the season and 1-4 in conference action. Led by Zuby Ejiofor's dominant performance in the paint and timely scoring from RJ Luis Jr., the Red Storm secured the BIG EAST conference road victory.
The game began with an even pace as both teams traded buckets in the opening minutes. Xavier briefly held a two-point lead early, but St. John’s quickly responded with an 8-0 run, setting the tone for their control throughout much of the contest. Ejiofor was a force in the first half, racking up 10 points and eight rebounds, including key putbacks to keep the Red Storm ahead.
Xavier stayed competitive behind the steady scoring of Zach Freemantle, who tallied a game-high 22 points. Freemantle connected on 8-of-18 field goals and added three rebounds, but the Musketeers struggled to match St. John’s physicality and effort in the paint. The Red Storm outscored Xavier 54-30 in the paint and collected 20 offensive rebounds, leading to a staggering 22 second-chance points.
The Musketeers were efficient from the free-throw line, hitting 24-of-25 attempts, but their shooting woes from the field (36.7%) and beyond the arc (22.2%) made it difficult to keep pace. Ryan Conwell and Dayvion McKnight chipped in nine and 11 points, respectively, while Dailyn Swain provided a spark off the bench with 14 points and eight rebounds.
St. John’s seized control in the second half, stretching their lead to as many as 18 points with under nine minutes remaining. Luis Jr. and Simeon Wilcher were instrumental during this stretch, combining for 33 points. Wilcher's energy and hustle on both ends of the court were pivotal, as he also added three assists and a steal.
Despite the deficit, Xavier mounted a late rally fueled by a full-court press and aggressive play from Swain. A six-point burst cut the lead to single digits, but turnovers and a lack of defensive stops allowed St. John’s to maintain their cushion. The Musketeers had no answer for Ejiofor, who finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds, solidifying a double-double.
St. John’s, meanwhile, displayed a balanced attack and depth, with six players scoring seven or more points. Their relentless pursuit of offensive rebounds and ability to convert in the paint underscored their physical dominance. The Red Storm's 12-of-13 shooting from the charity stripe also highlighted their efficiency in critical moments.
Looking ahead, Xavier travels to Chicago to face DePaul on Saturday, January 11, at Wintrust Arena. The Musketeers will aim to rebound from this loss and regain momentum in Big East play. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on FS1.
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