In a commanding performance, No. 22 St. John’s secured a 91-64 victory over Iona, showcasing resilience despite a rocky start. Oziyah Sellers played a pivotal role in the second half, scoring 16 of his 19 points during that period. His resurgence came as he made four three-pointers and finished the game shooting 7 of 13. This marked a significant improvement for Sellers, who had struggled in earlier games against Auburn and Ole Miss, managing only 3 of 15 shooting.
Zuby Ejiofor matched his career-high for the second consecutive game with eight blocks, contributing to a solid defensive effort. In addition to his defensive prowess, Ejiofor added six points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Ian Jackson made a notable impact upon his return to the starting lineup, scoring 14 points. Both Joson Sanon and Bryce Hopkins contributed with 13 points each.
The evening did not start well for St. John’s, as they faced significant shooting struggles, missing 12 of their first 13 shots. However, the team regrouped to finish the game shooting 51.7% from the floor, marking their sixth outing of the season with at least 90 points scored.
For Iona, C.J. Anthony led the scoring with 20 points, while the team collectively shot 38% from the field. This matchup was particularly significant, marking the first meeting since coach Rick Pitino transitioned from Iona to St. John’s in March 2023. Pitino had previously guided Iona to an impressive 64-22 record and two NCAA Tournament appearances during his tenure.
As the game unfolded, Sanon’s timely three-pointers in the final moments of the first half helped St. John’s build a 36-26 lead at halftime. Despite Iona’s efforts to narrow the gap to 48-44 early in the second half, St. John’s responded decisively, scoring 10 unanswered points to extend their lead to 58-44 with a corner three from Sellers.
St. John’s ultimately maintained control, reaching a peak lead of 71-50 after another layup from Sellers with less than eight minutes remaining.
Looking ahead, Iona will visit Vermont on December 20, while St. John’s prepares to host DePaul in their Big East opener on Tuesday. The momentum gained from this victory may prove crucial as both teams continue through the season.
