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St. John’s Storms Back to Erase 16-Point Deficit, Stuns Xavier at Cintas Center
By
Musketeer Madness,
1/24/2026
In a game defined by a dramatic shift in momentum, the Xavier Musketeers saw a 16-point second-half lead evaporate as St. John’s surged late to claim an 88-83 victory at the Cintas Center. Despite Xavier controlling the tempo for over 23 minutes of play, the Red Storm’s second-half explosion proved too much for the Musketeers to withstand in front of a home crowd of 10,399.
Xavier appeared to be in total control early, heading into the locker room with a 49-37 halftime lead. The Musketeers’ offense was lethal in the first period, shooting 50% from the field and a blistering 50% from three-point range. Tre Carroll led the charge, finishing the game with 31 points on 12-of-22 shooting. Malik Messina-Moore provided a significant boost from the perimeter, knocking down four triples on his way to an 18-point performance.
The Musketeers’ lead peaked at 53-37 just nine seconds into the second half following back-to-back layups by Jovan Milicevic. However, the Red Storm responded with a relentless interior attack, outscoring Xavier 51-34 in the final 20 minutes. St. John’s dominance in the paint was a deciding factor, as they notched 16 second-chance points compared to just four for the Musketeers.
Ian Jackson was the primary catalyst for the St. John’s comeback, racking up 16 points and hitting three crucial three-pointers. He was supported by a massive effort from Dillon Mitchell, who finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, and three steals, and Bryce Hopkins, who contributed 18 points and eight boards. The Red Storm’s depth also played a role, with their bench outscoring Xavier’s reserves 17-7 over the course of the afternoon.
Turnovers proved to be the undoing for Xavier down the stretch. St. John’s converted 12 Musketeer turnovers into 16 points, often using their defense to ignite a fast-break offense that accounted for 14 points. While Xavier’s Jovan Milicevic tallied 14 points and four assists, the team’s overall shooting cooled significantly in the second half, dropping to 28.6% from beyond the arc.
As the clock wound down, St. John’s showed superior poise at the free-throw line, hitting 73.3% of their attempts in the second half to seal the win. The victory moves St. John’s to an impressive 15-5 overall and 8-1 in conference play, while the Musketeers fall to 11-9 (3-6). Xavier will look to regroup after a missed opportunity to secure a signature win at home.
Next up for Xavier is a roadtrip to New Jersey to take on Seton Hall on Wednesday, January 28. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Prudential Center.
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