02/09/26 08:34:00
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02/09 20:32 CST Pitino climbs career wins list as No. 17 St. John's fends off
Xavier 87-82 in overtime
Pitino climbs career wins list as No. 17 St. John's fends off Xavier 87-82 in
overtime
By MIKE FITZPATRICK
AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --- Zuby Ejiofor scored six of his 25 points in overtime and No.
17 St. John's outlasted pesky Xavier 87-82 on Monday night at Madison Square
Garden for its 10th consecutive victory.
With his 904th career win on the court, Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino passed
Roy Williams for third place in Division I history behind Mike Krzyzewski
(1,202) and Jim Boeheim (1,116).
It was Pitino's second victory in 17 days over his son, Richard, the first-year
coach of the Musketeers. In the previous meeting, the elder Pitino earned his
900th win when the Johnnies rallied from a 16-point deficit in the second half
for an 88-83 victory at Xavier.
Bryce Hopkins added 19 points and nine rebounds for the Red Storm (19-5, 12-1
Big East), who won for the 15th time in 17 games and tied No. 6 UConn atop the
conference standings.
St. John's was coming off a rousing win Friday night at The Garden over the
rival Huskies.
Dylan Darling had 16 points, five rebounds and four assists off the bench for
the Johnnies. Ejiofor provided seven rebounds, five assists and two steals.
St. John's went 28 for 41 (68%) at the free-throw line, its most foul shots
since taking 44 against Lehigh in November 2011.
Tre Carroll, the Big East's leading scorer, had 21 points and eight rebounds
for the Musketeers (12-12, 4-9), who have lost five of six and eight of 11.
Oziyah Sellers tipped in his own miss for St. John's with 16 seconds remaining
in regulation to tie it at 78, and Carroll missed a wild 3-point attempt at the
buzzer to send the game to overtime.
There were seven lead changes and four ties in the first half, which ended with
the score even at 42 after Isaiah Walker drained a 3-pointer for Xavier at the
horn.
Up next
Xavier hosts Marquette on Saturday, after dropping their first meeting this
season 66-65 on Jan. 7.
St. John's visits Providence on Saturday looking to avenge its last loss, 77-71
on Jan. 3 at MSG.
___
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