01/20/26 08:58:00
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01/20 20:54 CST Pitino gets 899th win as St. John's rallies from 15 down in 2nd
half for 65-60 win over Seton Hall
Pitino gets 899th win as St. John's rallies from 15 down in 2nd half for 65-60
win over Seton Hall
By MIKE FITZPATRICK
AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --- Dillon Mitchell had 17 points and 11 rebounds as St. John's
rallied from 15 down in the second half to beat Seton Hall 65-60 on Tuesday
night at Madison Square Garden, giving Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino his 899th
career win.
Pitino can reach 900 on Saturday at Xavier with a win over his son, of all
things. Richard Pitino is in his first season coaching the Musketeers.
Bryce Hopkins added 13 points and eight boards for the Red Storm (14-5, 7-1 Big
East), who sit just outside the AP Top 25 this week. St. John's has won five
straight and seven of eight.
AJ Staton-McCray scored 16 points to pace the rugged Pirates (14-5, 4-4), who
lost their third game in a row. Tajuan Simpkins added 14 off the bench, and
Stephon Payne had 13 points and 15 rebounds.
After a one-week stint at No. 25 in the AP poll, Seton Hall didn't receive any
votes this week following home losses to then-No. 3 UConn and Butler.
Seton Hall took a 38-32 lead into halftime and scored the first nine points of
the second half to open a 47-32 cushion --- matching the largest deficit for
St. John's all season.
But the Red Storm got more aggressive on both ends and chipped away, aided by
some poor free-throw shooting by the Pirates.
Mitchell's layup with 4:53 remaining put St. John's ahead 55-54, its first lead
since there was 6:43 left in the first half.
Up next
Seton Hall visits DePaul on Saturday.
St. John's plays Saturday at Xavier, pitting Rick Pitino against his son for
the first time in a conference game. Richard Pitino is 1-3 in coaching matchups
with his father, including a loss last season at MSG with New Mexico.
___
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