NEW YORK — The St. John's Red Storm extended their winning streak to 13 games on Saturday night, defeating the Creighton Bluejays 81-52 at Madison Square Garden and marking the program's longest run of victories in 41 years.
Bryce Hopkins led the way with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Dylan Darling came off the bench to score 17 points in a standout performance. Zuby Ejiofor contributed 15 points as the 17th-ranked Red Storm (22-5, 15-1 Big East) dominated from start to finish, holding Creighton to just 32% shooting from the field. The win improved St. John's record to 18-2 over their last 20 games and solidified their position at the top of the Big East standings.
The game, played before a crowd of 19,328 on Johnnies Day at the iconic arena, saw St. John's jump out to an early 8-0 lead and never look back. They built a 12-point advantage just 4:18 into the contest and took a 42-27 halftime lead. In the second half, Creighton endured an 8:45 field goal drought, allowing the Red Storm to unleash a 25-4 run that opened a 69-38 cushion with 8:31 remaining.
"This was the best defense we played all season," St. John's coach Rick Pitino said after the game. "The guys were totally locked in because of their respect for Creighton and their ability to score." Pitino's squad outrebounded the Bluejays 44-30 and forced 18 turnovers, limiting Creighton to a season-low 0.7 points per possession in what became their most lopsided loss of the year.
For Creighton (14-14, 8-9 Big East), the defeat was a stark contrast to their recent upset victory over No. 5 UConn on Wednesday. Bluejays coach Greg McDermott acknowledged the challenge posed by St. John's versatile defense. "St. John's, they're terrific," McDermott said. "Their defensive versatility makes it very challenging for us with the particular roster that we have."
The blowout was the largest margin of victory for St. John's in a Big East game since a 91-57 win over Butler at Carnesecca Arena in February 2022. It also represented the Red Storm's biggest conference triumph at Madison Square Garden since a 90-57 rout of then-No. 6 UConn on February 1, 1992. These historical parallels underscore the significance of the current streak, which hasn't been matched since the 1984-85 season under Hall of Fame coach Lou Carnesecca.
That year, St. John's rattled off 19 straight wins en route to a No. 1 national ranking, a top seed in the NCAA tournament, and a Final Four appearance. The current team, now entering the third-longest active winning streak in Division I and the best among high-major programs, hasn't lost since a 77-71 defeat to Providence on January 3 at MSG. Their turnaround from a 4-3 start to this dominant stretch has been fueled by key contributions across the roster.
Hopkins and Ejiofor have been consistent forces all season, but the rise of bench players like Darling and forward Dillon Mitchell has been pivotal. Darling, a gritty point guard, bounced back from a scoreless outing in just 13 minutes during Wednesday's 76-70 win at Marquette, where he fouled out. On Saturday, he logged 28½ minutes, adding four rebounds, three assists, and three steals to his 17 points.
McDermott praised Darling's impact post-handshake. "I told him in the handshake line: I think that Darling's changed their team in a lot of ways the last six weeks," the Creighton coach said. "There's a confidence about him and there's a tenacity and toughness defensively. And obviously they have that across their roster, but in preparing for this game and watching film, in a lot of close games he's making huge plays on both ends of the floor."
Mitchell, a 6-foot-8 senior forward, didn't attempt a field goal against Marquette but excelled in other facets, recording 10 rebounds, seven assists, and zero turnovers against Creighton while scoring six points and adding a steal. "He's a summa cum laude basketball player," Pitino quipped. "If you have to get a rebound in the game, he's the guy that's going to get it. ... He's just a great basketball player."
Mitchell credited his role in the team's success. "We have a lot of offensive threats and it's my job to try to get them good shots," he said. With starting guard Ian Jackson sidelined by a sprained right ankle, these contributions from reserves have been crucial. Pitino noted that Jackson could have played but was held out due to lack of practice; he's expected to return for Wednesday's matchup at UConn.
Pitino lauded his staff's preparation. "Our staff is doing a phenomenal job of getting the guys [ready]," he said. "It's one thing to be a great scout and break it down, but it's getting the players to listen to every little detail, and they're listening to every little detail. I'm proud of them for that." This attention to detail has propelled St. John's to first place in the Big East, holding a half-game lead over UConn heading into the day's later games.
The Red Storm's pursuit of a second straight Big East championship adds high stakes to the remainder of their schedule. A win over UConn on Wednesday would extend their streak to 14 games and match the 14-0 Big East start from the 1984-85 season, setting a program record. That rematch will be the teams' second meeting this year, following St. John's earlier victory in the season series.
Creighton's struggles highlight the parity and challenges within the conference. Despite their recent upset of UConn, the Bluejays couldn't sustain momentum against St. John's relentless pressure. As the regular season winds down, both teams eye postseason implications, with St. John's firmly in contention for a top NCAA tournament seed.
This victory not only cements St. John's resurgence under Pitino but also evokes memories of the program's golden eras. Fans in the red-clad crowd at MSG witnessed a performance that blended historical dominance with modern execution, setting the stage for what could be a memorable March run.