Zuby Ejiofor’s 27 point, 13 rebound outing helped the Red Storm overcome a 13-point deficit on Thursday
Thursday’s game did not count, but the result feels like something St. John’s can carry into the new season.
The Red Storm took on a ranked Rutgers team touting two potential NBA lottery picks in a half-capacity yet energetic Jersey Mike’s Arena, faced multiple waves of adversity, and came away with a comeback win in a charity exhibition.
St. John’s initially broke out to a 17-8 start, as marquee transfer Kadary Richmond produced two impressive plays minutes into his first appearance for the Red Storm: a chase-down block on Jamichael Davis, then a coast-to-coast layup to give St. John’s an eight-point lead.
Kadary Richmond already showing why Rick Pitino went out and got him
Will again be one of the best defensive guards in the country pic.twitter.com/5YUANlGe46
— Ryan Cassidy (@ryancassidycbb) October 17, 2024
Then Richmond exited the game with two fouls, and Rutgers began twisting the gears with intense ball pressure. The Scarlet Knights forced six St. John’s turnovers with Richmond on the pine and made them pay dearly for their giveaways, enjoying a 22-0 run to not only overtake the Red Storm but command a 30-17 lead.
St. John’s were able to regain their composure, with R.J. Luis scoring nine of his 13 first-half points in the final six minutes, which shrunk the deficit to eight entering halftime.
Out of the break, Rutgers’ offense operated at a level we typically do not see from the grit and grind Scarlet Knights. Stud freshmen Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper were responsible for the onslaught, combining for 45 points in their unofficial college debuts.
Bailey led the Scarlet Knight’s second-half long-range shooting barrage with three triples, indulging in some trash talk with Simeon Wilcher after burying his third of the half on the fastbreak to give Rutgers a 64-52 lead.
Emblematic of the Red Storm’s offensive flow, Ejiofor exploded in the second half after trying to find his rhythm in the first half. He missed his first five attempts and ended the first half with a rough but more respectable eight points on nine attempts.
After halftime, Ejiofor put up 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting, including the game-tying layup late in the second half, ultimately finishing with 27 points and 13 rebounds (ten offensive). A bulk of those points came off rim-rattling dunks that energized St. John’s and wrested momentum away from Rutgers.
Ejiofor wasn’t solely responsible for the comeback. R.J. Luis came off the bench and flashed his re-configured jump shot by scoring 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including two triples.
Aaron Scott made a couple of triples as St. John’s was on the precipice of letting thid game slipping away. Simeon Wilcher put up 15 points and six rebounds, playing with the composure of a seasoned floor general during the second-half rally.
Kadary Richmond could have flirted with a triple-double if he played more than 26 minutes, tallying nine points, nine rebounds, and six assists. Richmond cashed in a clutch jumper from the right elbow over Jordan Derkack to give St. John’s a three-point lead in the final two minutes.
While he had a quiet offensive night, Utah transfer Deivon Smith delivered two critical steals in the game’s final five minutes. One resulted in one of multiple fastbreak dunks from Zuby Ejiofor, and the other was a backbreaking interception of Dylan Harper as St. John’s led by one.
Yes, it is the preseason, but there is plenty to be excited about in Queens after tonight.