In an electrifying showdown that showcased the resilience of his team, Rick Pitino clinched his 900th career victory, marking a significant milestone in his illustrious coaching journey. This thrilling encounter saw St. John's stage a remarkable comeback against Xavier, overcoming a daunting 16-point deficit early in the second half. The game was especially poignant as it featured Pitino facing off against his son, Richard, in their inaugural Big East clash.
"It was an incredible basketball match. The opposing team displayed exceptional skills. When you have a crowd like that, and your team remains steadfast and doesn't falter, it’s truly impressive. I am immensely proud of how they performed tonight," Pitino expressed with evident pride. He continued to highlight his team's tenacity, stating, "I’ve always emphasized how enjoyable they are to coach, but tonight felt particularly rewarding, because many teams would crumble when down by 12 or 10 points, yet they maintained their composure and stayed focused."
Dylan Darling emerged as a crucial player in the final moments, scoring five points within the last 1 minute and 20 seconds, including a pivotal 3-pointer that secured the lead with just 53.2 seconds left on the clock. This victory represented St. John's sixth consecutive win, ending the contest with a score of 88-83 at Cintas Center.
Post-game celebrations included the St. John's players receiving special shirts commemorating Pitino's 900th victory on the court. A controversial foul call against Zuby Ejiofor, leading to his disqualification with just over a minute remaining, gave Xavier a brief one-point advantage. However, Darling swiftly responded with a 3-pointer, and Ruben Prey’s subsequent follow-up solidified the win.
"Darling has nerves of steel; his confidence is astonishing. Bryce Hopkins made significant contributions, and Ian Jackson was instrumental in keeping us competitive during the first half. Overall, it was a fantastic team effort," Pitino remarked enthusiastically.
Discussing the decisive shot, he noted, "We had a planned play, but Darling’s instincts took over. His ability to make critical shots and drives really speaks volumes about his character."
Bryce Hopkins played a pivotal role in the second half, finishing the game with an impressive 18 points and eight rebounds. Dillon Mitchell also shone brightly, contributing 17 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, while Ejiofor recorded a double-double with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists. On the opposing side, Tre Carroll led Xavier with a standout performance, scoring 31 points.
The conclusion of the game was nothing short of dramatic. At one point, St. John's had rallied back to take a five-point lead with under three minutes to go. Yet, Carroll responded fiercely with a deep step-back 3-pointer, and Malik Messina-Moore leveled the game at 79 with a strong drive with just 1:38 remaining.
St. John's started the game on a high note, hitting eight of their first ten shots and quickly building a 20-11 lead. However, things took a downturn as Pitino relied heavily on his bench, which allowed Xavier to embark on a 17-5 run, capitalizing on the Red Storm reserves’ struggles.
After consecutive 3-pointers from Messina-Moore widened the gap to 14 points, the atmosphere in the arena reached a fever pitch as the first half ended with St. John's trailing by 12. A missed layup by Hopkins epitomized a tough start for the Johnnies, with Jackson being the only standout, contributing 16 points out of the team’s 37 in that half. Meanwhile, Hopkins struggled significantly, connecting on only two of his ten attempts, and Ejiofor was largely ineffective.
As the second half commenced, the challenges continued for St. John's, who fell behind by 16 points following two quick layups from Xavier. However, the Johnnies began their comeback by focusing on their inside game. Hopkins scored on a feed from Mitchell, sparking a 16-1 run. With Mitchell scoring on back-to-back possessions and capping it off with a dunk following a steal, they narrowed the deficit to just one point. Carroll briefly shifted momentum back to Xavier by scoring 11 consecutive points before taking a break, allowing St. John's to string together an 8-0 run and reclaim their first lead since early in the first half with a 3-point play by Hopkins.
