03/03/26 09:07:00
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03/03 21:05 CST Ejiofor leads Senior Night comeback as No. 18 St. John's tops
Georgetown 72-69 at MSG
Ejiofor leads Senior Night comeback as No. 18 St. John's tops Georgetown 72-69
at MSG
By MIKE FITZPATRICK
AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --- Zuby Ejiofor scored 23 points, Joson Sanon added 15 off the
bench --- all after halftime --- and No. 18 St. John's rallied from 12 down in
the second half to beat skidding Georgetown 72-69 on Tuesday night.
With a gritty comeback on Senior Night at Madison Square Garden, the Red Storm
(24-6, 17-2 Big East) tied No. 4 UConn atop the conference standings with one
regular-season game remaining. A victory Friday night at Hudson River rival
Seton Hall would give the Johnnies at least a share of their second consecutive
Big East regular-season championship following a 32-year drought.
The only time they've won back-to-back league crowns was 1985 and '86.
Dylan Darling had 12 points for St. John's, which has won 15 of 16 overall and
11 straight meetings with Georgetown --- the longest streak for either school
in a series that dates to 1909.
Kayvaun Mulready scored a career-high 20 points off the bench for the streaky
Hoyas (13-17, 5-14), last in the Big East. They've lost a season-worst seven in
a row following a four-game winning streak.
Jeremiah Williams shook off an injury to his lower right leg and added 17
points. Malik Mack had 15.
After honoring Ejiofor and four other seniors in a pregame ceremony, the Red
Storm came out flat. They trailed 48-36 with 13:30 remaining before finally
starting to find their rhythm when Ian Jackson converted a three-point play.
Darling's steal and fast-break layup put St. John's ahead 59-57 with 6:43 left,
its first lead since 15-14 with 12:16 to go in the first half.
A jumper by Sanon capped an 8-0 run, but Georgetown wouldn't go away even after
falling behind by five with 1:30 to play.
Williams could have tied it by finishing a three-point play with 16.6 seconds
left, but he missed the free throw. Bryce Hopkins grabbed the rebound and sank
two foul shots to make it 72-69, and Caleb Williams missed a 3-pointer for the
Hoyas just before the buzzer.
Up next
Georgetown coach Ed Cooley faces his former team again when the Hoyas host
Providence in their regular-season finale Saturday night.
St. John's stormed back from 15 down in the second half to defeat Seton Hall
65-60 at MSG on Jan. 20.
___
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