No. 12 St. John's keeps rolling with 70-64 win over No. 11 Marquette in Big East showdown

No. 12 St. John’s keeps rolling with 70-64 win over No. 11 Marquette in Big East showdown

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St. John’s Zuby Ejiofor, right, reacts to the crowd after drawing a foul during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Marquette, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

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St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino, left, talks with Kadary Richmond during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Marquette, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

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St. John’s Deivon Smith, left, scores while Marquette’s Ben Gold looks on during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

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St. John’s Simeon Wilcher, right, celebrates with Kadary Richmond during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Marquette, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

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Marquette’s David Joplin, right, passes as St. John’s Kadary Richmond defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

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Marquette’s Zaide Lowery, left, drives past St. John’s Ruben Prey during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

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St. John’s Kadary Richmond (1), center, reacts after a foul is called during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Marquette, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

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St. John’s Kadary Richmond, left, defends as Marquette’s Chase Ross brings the ball up the court during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

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Marquette’s Tre Norman, left, reacts after sinking a three-point basket while St. John’s Deivon Smith looks on during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

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Marquette’s Kam Jones, right, passes around St. John’s Kadary Richmond during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

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St. John’s RJ Luis Jr. reacts after the ball goes out of bounds during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Marquette, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

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St. John’s Simeon Wilcher reacts after sinking a basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Marquette, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

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Marquette’s Chase Ross (2), top, fouls St. John’s Zuby Ejiofor, bottom center, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

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St. John’s Kadary Richmond falls to the floor while chasing the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Marquette, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

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St. John’s RJ Luis Jr. tries to grab the ball before it goes out of bounds during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Marquette, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

By MIKE FITZPATRICK

NEW YORK (AP) — Kadary Richmond had 18 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists as No. 12 St. John’s beat No. 11 Marquette 70-64 on Tuesday night in their showdown for first place in the Big East.

RJ Luis Jr. added 17 points and 11 boards for the Red Storm (20-3, 11-1), who have won nine straight games and 15 of 16. Zuby Ejiofor had 13 points and 13 rebounds to help St. John’s improve to 15-0 at home before a roaring Madison Square Garden crowd of 16,521 that included New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone.

Chase Ross had 16 points on 4-of-13 shooting for the Golden Eagles (18-5, 9-3), who were whistled for 24 fouls and had four players finish with at least four. Kam Jones scored 13 of his 15 in the second half.

Luis played all 40 minutes and made a huge impact on defense, too, with four steals and three blocked shots.

With its highest ranking in 25 years, St. John’s is off to the program’s best start since 1985-86.

Takeaways

Marquette: Lost its second straight and dropped to 3-3 since a six-game winning streak.

St. John’s: It was a rousing start to a measuring-stick week for the Red Storm, who are 1-1 against ranked opponents this season.

Not PARSE.LY: College basketball

Oklahoma guard Dayton Forsythe (7) drives the baseline around Auburn guard Chad Baker-Mazara (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Broome and Baker-Mazara score 15 apiece and No. 1 Auburn runs away from Oklahoma 98-70

Texas Tech guard Chance McMillian (0) shoots a 3-pointer during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Baylor, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Annie Rice)

Chance McMillian has quick trio of 3s for No. 13 Texas Tech in 73-59 win over Baylor

Swain’s 18 lead Xavier past Georgetown 74-69

Key moment

Ross missed an open 3-pointer that could have cut Marquette’s deficit to two with 1:52 remaining. Richmond then hit Aaron Scott for a dunk that gave the Red Storm a 66-59 lead with 1:37 left.

Key stats

After missing 13 of its first 23 free throws, St. John’s made seven of its last eight to pull this one out. The Red Storm held the Golden Eagles without a field goal for the final 5:20 and outrebounded them 50-28.

Up next

Marquette plays Saturday at Creighton, looking to sweep the season series.

St. John’s visits No. 19 UConn on Friday night. Huskies freshman Liam McNeeley (13.6 points per game) is expected back from a high ankle sprain that’s sidelined him since early January.

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