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last mo.

No. 5 St. John’s Blasts Quinnipiac 108–74 in Opener, Setting Up Early Test Against No. 15 Alabama

Rick Pitino’s overhauled roster, ranked No. 5 to start the season, will gauge its shared-motion offense without a true point guard at Madison Square Garden.

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NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 25: Head Coach Rick Pitino of the St. John's Red Storm talks to his team before a college basketball exhibition game against the Michigan Wolverines at Madison Square Garden on October 25, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • St. John’s surged to a 19–4 lead and never trailed, finishing with 25 assists on 39 field goals and shooting 42% from three in a 108–74 win.
  • Dillon Mitchell led with 18 points, Zuby Ejiofor added 17, Ian Jackson scored 15 on 6-for-6 shooting, and Joson Sanon contributed 14 off the bench.
  • A pregame ceremony unveiled banners for last season’s Big East titles as Pitino and four returnees received rings, with Pitino telling fans they are “going after the biggest prize.”
  • The Red Storm enter with their highest-ever preseason AP ranking at No. 5 after a portal-fueled overhaul that left Ejiofor as the lone returning starter.
  • Pitino has emphasized a “pointless” motion offense with shared ball-handling, praised backup guard Dylan Darling’s control, and pointed to Saturday’s up-tempo Alabama game at MSG as an early barometer.