Villanova edges No. 9 St. John's 73-71 to stop Red Storm's winning streak

Villanova edges No. 9 St. John’s 73-71 to stop Red Storm’s winning streak

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Villanova’s Jordan Longino, from left, Tyler Perkins and Wooga Poplar celebrate after Villanova won an NCAA college basketball game against St. John’s, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Villanova, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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Villanova’s Tyler Perkins (4) and Enoch Boakye (13) celebrate after Villanova won an NCAA college basketball game against St. John’s, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Villanova, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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Villanova’s Wooga Poplar goes up for a dunk during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against St. John’s, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Villanova, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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Villanova’s Eric Dixon (43) goes up for a shot against St. John’s Zuby Ejiofor (24) and Kadary Richmond (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Villanova, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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Villanova’s Jhamir Brickus, right, tries to get past St. John’s Simeon Wilcher during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Villanova, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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St. John’s Rick Pitino reacts during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Villanova, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Villanova, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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Villanova’s Kyle Neptune reacts during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against St. John’s, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Villanova, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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Villanova’s Eric Dixon, right, tries to get past St. John’s Aaron Scott during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Villanova, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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Villanova’s Tyler Perkins celebrate after Villanova won an NCAA college basketball game against St. John’s, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Villanova, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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St. John’s Ruben Prey, center, tries to hang onto the ball against Villanova’s Jordan Longino, right, and Tyler Perkins during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Villanova, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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St. John’s RJ Luis Jr., right, tries to get past Villanova’s Eric Dixon during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Villanova, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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Villanova’s Jordan Longino, left, and Tyler Perkins celebrate after Villanova won an NCAA college basketball game against St. John’s, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Villanova, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) — Tyler Perkins hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 8 seconds remaining and Villanova defeated No. 9 St. John’s 73-71 on Wednesday night, ending the Red Storm’s 10-game winning streak.

Wooga Poplar scored 22 points and Eric Dixon added 17 in a critical victory for the Wildcats (15-10, 8-6 Big East), who have won three in a row.

Aaron Scott led four players in double figures with 22 points for the Red Storm (21-4, 12-2), who lead the Big East by one game over No. 24 Creighton. The teams meet Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

Kadary Richmond had 17 points and 10 assists for St. John’s. Simeon Wilcher and RJ Luis Jr. scored 12 apiece.

Off to its best start in 40 years, St. John’s was playing its first regular-season game as a top-10 team in the AP Top 25 since Feb. 27, 1999, also a loss at Villanova.

St. John’s scored 14 consecutive points, capped by Luis’ dunk, to go ahead 62-59 with 6:22 left.

Takeaways

St. John’s: Chasing the program’s first Big East regular-season title since 1992, the Red Storm remain in good position to earn a high seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Villanova: Trying to make a March Madness push, the Wildcats get two more chances for quality wins in their next two games, at Providence and at UConn.

Not PARSE.LY: St. John’s Red Storm

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St. John's guard RJ Luis Jr. (12) celebrates at the end of an NCAA college basketball game against UConn, Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

AP men’s player of the week: RJ Luis Jr. has big week as No. 9 St. John’s rises in poll

Key moments

Wilcher hit a 3 that gave St. John’s a 71-70 lead with 27.3 seconds left, but Perkins connected from right in front of the Wildcats’ bench to put them back in front. Wilcher then missed a 3-point attempt just before the buzzer.

Key stat

St. John’s shot 11 for 37 (30%) from 3-point range, 10 more attempts than its previous season high. The Red Storm entered shooting 29% from beyond the arc.

Up next

St. John’s: Will host Creighton on Sunday with first place in the Big East standings at stake. St. John’s lost 57-56 at Creighton on New Year’s Eve before beginning its 10-game winning streak.

Villanova: Plays at Providence on Saturday.

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