No. 17 St. John’s Grinds Past Marquette, Seizes Big East Driver’s Seat with 12th Straight Win

The roar inside Fiserv Forum was building, a familiar script for a Marquette upset brewing. But these are not the St. John’s Red Storm of old. These are the hardened, battle-tested contenders who bend but refuse to break. In a gritty, defensive-heavy Big East brawl, No. 17 St. John’s authored its latest statement, outlasting host Marquette 76-70 to extend its nation-leading winning streak to a staggering 12 games and, more importantly, climb alone to the top of the conference standings.

A Championship-Caliber Response in a Hostile Environment

Winning on the road in the Big East is never a given. Winning in Milwaukee, even against a struggling Marquette squad, requires a specific blend of toughness and poise. For much of the first half, St. John’s (21-5, 14-1 Big East) struggled to find its offensive rhythm, plagued by uncharacteristic turnovers. Marquette (9-18, 4-12), led by the electric Nigel James Jr., played with desperate energy, sensing a chance to play spoiler.

Yet, the hallmark of Rick Pitino’s best teams has always been their adaptability. “We knew they were going to come out swinging,” a player said postgame. “It’s about weathering that storm and imposing your will in the final ten minutes.” That’s precisely what unfolded. The game was a tense, possession-by-possession affair for 30 minutes, setting the stage for a star to emerge and a supporting cast to deliver in the clutch.

Bryce Hopkins: The Unstoppable Force in the Paint

When the offense sputtered, St. John’s consistently turned to its bedrock: Bryce Hopkins. The versatile forward was a model of efficiency and power, pouring in a game-high 23 points and hauling in 10 rebounds for a critical double-double. Marquette had no answer for his combination of strength on the block and face-up agility. Every time the Golden Eagles threatened to build momentum, Hopkins answered with a tough basket in the paint, a put-back, or a trip to the free-throw line.

His performance was the engine, but the victory required other key contributions:

• Oziyah Sellers’ Spark: The guard provided a crucial 12 points off the bench, including timely shots that stalled Marquette runs.
• Joson Sanon’s Clutch Gene: His cold-blooded three-pointer with 6:37 left, pushing the lead to 67-61, was arguably the shot of the game, a momentum-shifting dagger in a hostile environment.
• Defensive Discipline: After a scoring flurry, the Red Storm locked down, holding Marquette scoreless for over two critical minutes late while extending their own lead.

The Stretch That Sealed It: Grit Over Glamour

This win wasn’t about highlight-reel alley-oops. It was about winning ugly, a trait essential for March. Leading 67-61 after Sanon’s three, the game entered a bizarre, tense stalemate. For over two minutes, neither team could buy a bucket. The pressure mounted with each empty possession.

Finally, Zuby Ejiofor broke the seal with a free throw at the 4:10 mark. It was a small crack, but it was enough. St. John’s recommitted to getting stops and controlling the glass. When Adrian Stevens hit a late three for Marquette to pull within four with 44 seconds left, the Red Storm didn’t panic. They executed their offense, forced Marquette to foul, and iced the game at the line—a textbook display of veteran composure.

While Nigel James Jr. was brilliant for Marquette with 25 points, and Royce Parham added 13, the Golden Eagles’ comeback bid fell short against a team that simply knows how to close.

Storm Warning: What’s Next for the Big East Leaders?

The landscape of the Big East shifted dramatically on Wednesday. As St. John’s was battling in Milwaukee, No. 5 UConn was falling at home to Creighton. The result: the Red Storm now sit alone in first place, a half-game ahead of the Huskies with five games remaining. The path to a regular-season title, unthinkable after their 0-2 start in conference play, is now squarely in their hands.

The nation-leading 12-game winning streak is no fluke. It’s built on elite defense, offensive balance, and the steadying hand of a Hall of Fame coach. The question is no longer if St. John’s is a tournament team, but how high a seed they can secure and how deep a run they can make.

Looking ahead, the schedule remains a gauntlet. The final stretch will test their mettle, but this team has shown it thrives under pressure. They have transformed from a promising squad into a legitimate Big East championship contender and a nightmare matchup for anyone in the country. The confidence gained from winning close games on the road, like this one in Milwaukee, is the exact currency spent in March.

Conclusion: A Storm Gathering for March

The final score at Fiserv Forum—St. John’s 76, Marquette 70—tells only part of the story. The full narrative is one of resilience, growth, and championship aspiration. The Red Storm didn’t have their ‘A’ game, but they found a way, leveraging their star’s dominance, timely bench production, and defensive resolve to seize a pivotal road victory.

With each win, the aura grows. The nation is on notice. The St. John’s Red Storm are not just riding a hot streak; they have forged an identity as one of the toughest, most complete teams in college basketball. As the calendar turns toward March, the storm brewing in Queens has all the makings of one that could sweep through the Big East and deep into the NCAA Tournament.

Source: Based on news from Deadspin.

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