Zuby Ejiofor holds the Big East Tournamen’s Most Outstanding Player award. (Photo courtesy of Sebastian Zelaya)
St. John’s defeated UConn 72-52 in the Big East Tournament championship game on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, securing its second straight conference tournament title. In a sold-out arena featuring the conference’s top two seeds, the Red Storm took control early and maintained the lead throughout the game.
The victory capped a dominant tournament run for St. John’s, which also claimed the regular season title and now heads into the 2026 NCAA Tournament with significant momentum.
Bryce Hopkins delivered when the offense needed it
Hopkins was one of the most consistent players on the floor for St. John’s. He attacked the rim throughout the game and hit several key outside shots as the Red Storm maintained its lead.
Head coach Rick Pitino noted Hopkins and Dylan Mitchell needed to lead the way offensively.
“I told Dylan and Bryce going into this, if you guys don’t dominate, we can’t win this game. They both played unbelievably,” Pitino said.
Hopkins’ confidence at the rim was also something Pitino highlighted when reflecting on the team’s offensive flow during the game.
“One thing I loved tonight was Bryce Hopkins just saying, ‘Give me the ball, I’m going to the rim,’ and then Dylan Mitchell flying down the court. It was just exciting to see the confidence of both players, and then Oziyah shooting the ball. That guy doesn’t need a boost of confidence. He thinks he’s the best player in the country, and he shows it every single night.”
Zuby Ejofor’s tournament run ended with honors
Ejofor delivered another strong performance in the championship and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, earning the Dave Gavitt Trophy.
Across the Big East Tournament, he averaged 19.7 points, eight rebounds, four blocks, and three assists per game. His dominance on both ends made him one of the defining players of the event.
Pitino praised Ejofor’s growth since joining the program.
“Zuby was a guy that came in without a lot of confidence, and now he’s one of the greatest leaders in the game that I’ve ever coached,” Pitino said.
Ejofor reflected on the significance of repeating as champions and what it meant to share the moment with teammates and fans at the Garden.
“The first one was truly special; it was the first time I had experienced winning at such a high level,” he said. “The second time around, it wasn’t about me; it was more about the new guys who came in. I wanted to win for them. I wanted them to feel the thrill of winning a championship here at MSG, and we accomplished that goal. Just to see the excitement, the smiles on their faces, it meant a lot to me.
“That’s who I do it for, I do it for them. I do it for Johnnies nation and my family.”
Defense prevented a UConn comeback
UConn attempted to close the gap early in the second half, but St. John’s responded with strong defense and timely scoring.
Key plays from Dylan Darling, Dillon Mitchell, and Oziyah Sellers helped push the lead back into double digits midway through the half. The Red Storm continued to defend aggressively and limited UConn’s scoring opportunities as the game went on.
Pitino said the team’s consistency throughout the tournament showed their growth.
“I told them, ‘You have a chance to be a part of history,’ Pitino said. “It’s a championship, another night to get better, and we did. We improved every single game. Remember, we were struggling: comeback against Xavier, comeback against Butler, comeback against Seton Hall. We were always trailing. We have come out three straight nights, and we didn’t relent at all. That is a great sign offensively and defensively going into the tournament.”
