There was nothing simple about this night. Not the setting, not the stakes, and certainly not the emotions attached to it. Madison Square Garden was loud, the Big East race was tight, and the opposing coach happened to be Rick Pitino’s son.
By the time it finally ended, St. John’s had survived, the Garden was still buzzing, and another chapter had been added to one of college basketball’s most unusual family storylines.
St. John’s escaped with an 87-82 overtime win against Xavier on Monday night at Madison Square Garden, extending its winning streak to 10 games and improving to 19-5 overall and 12-1 in Big East play. The victory also marked career win No. 904 for Rick Pitino, moving him past Roy Williams for third place on the Division I all-time wins list, trailing only Mike Krzyzewski and Jim Boeheim.
It also came against his son, and that was never going to feel normal.
A game that dragged everyone into deep water
Xavier refused to go away. The Musketeers matched St. John’s punch for punch, forced mistakes, and made every possession feel heavy. Regulation ended with neither side willing to blink, and overtime followed the same script.
Zuby Ejiofor was the difference late, scoring six of his 25 points in overtime and providing steady offense when things tightened up. Bryce Hopkins added 19 points and nine rebounds, while Dylan Darling chipped in 16 off the bench and brought energy when the Red Storm needed it most.
St. John’s leaned heavily on the free-throw line, going 28-for-41, and that ultimately swung the game. Xavier players fouled out in overtime on three straight defensive possessions, turning a tense finish into a slow grind to the horn.
Father and son, again
This was the second time in just over two weeks that Rick Pitino had beaten his son, Richard Pitino. The first came earlier this season at Xavier, when St. John’s rallied for Rick Pitino’s 900th career win.
The postgame mood reflected that history. Rick Pitino spoke less about the number and more about his pride in Richard, calling him a brilliant coach and admitting that earning milestones against his son is never comfortable. The respect was evident on both sides, even after another tight, emotional loss.
Rick Pitino now holds a 5-1 edge in head-to-head matchups against his son, but nothing about these games has felt one-sided.
Xavier shows fight despite the loss
Xavier played well enough to win. Tre Carroll finished with 21 points and eight rebounds, scoring 11 straight points during a second-half stretch that nearly swung the game. He also passed the 1,000-point mark for his career, a milestone that came in the middle of a painful night.
The Musketeers committed just nine turnovers in 45 minutes and consistently created matchup problems for St. John’s. A late tip-in forced overtime, and a last-second three at the end of regulation narrowly missed. Even with the loss, the effort reinforced the sense that Xavier is closer than its recent record shows.
What comes next
For St. John’s, there is little time to exhale. The Red Storm head back on the road Saturday for a key Big East matchup at Providence, another test in a conference race that continues to tighten.
Xavier also turns the page quickly, hosting Marquette on Saturday as it looks to snap a difficult stretch and turn strong performances into results.
The milestone will be remembered, but the game itself told a bigger story. A rivalry layered with family ties, a building that never lost its voice, and two teams that pushed each other well past the comfort zone. On this night, St. John’s found just enough to survive, and Rick Pitino added another win he will never forget.