MILWAUKEE — This incredible St. John’s season has reached another plateau.
With nothing to gain but NCAA Tournament seeding, the sixth-ranked Johnnies fought fatigue and an injury to key guard Deivon Smith and still found a way to pull out their biggest win of this remarkable year.
For the second time this season, Zuby Ejiofor beat the buzzer, sending St. John’s to a dramatic 86-84 overtime win over No. 20 Marquette.
In the final seconds of the extra session, RJ Luis missed a deep 3, but Simeon Wilcher stole the rebound out of the hands of Chase Ross and fed Ejiofor, who hit a baby jumper in the lane.
He sprinted to the other side of the court and was mobbed by teammates.
It was a wild finish to a wild game.
Kam Jones was brilliant in defeat, scoring 32 points for Marquette.
But it wasn’t enough.
Luis scored 24 of his 28 points in the second half and overtime and Kadary Richmond posted the first St. John’s triple-double since Ron Artest in 1999, with 10 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists.
The Red Storm can now dream of a No. 2 seed after its 16th win in 17 games.
St. John’s the regular season 18-2 in Big East play, a program record for conference wins.
