WAGNER

STJOHN

No. 22 St. John's beats Wagner 66-45 for 1st win as a ranked team in nearly 10 years

AP
Nov 14, 2024

NEW YORK (AP) Deivon Smith drained a 3-pointer midway through the second half to start an 18-0 spurt that propelled No. 22 St. John's Red Storm past Wagner Seahawks 66-45 on Wednesday night for its first victory as a ranked team in almost 10 years.

RJ Luis Jr. had 13 points, Aaron Scott scored 11 and the 6-foot Smith grabbed a team-high eight rebounds as St. John's (3-0) pulled away down the stretch following a choppy performance over the first 30 minutes.

In their second season under Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, the Red Storm jumped into the AP Top 25 poll this week for the first time since January 2019. They earned their first win as a ranked squad since topping Tulane on Dec. 28, 2014.

Javier Ezquerra scored 10 points to pace Wagner (1-2).

Wagner: The Seahawks were picked as co-favorites with Central Connecticut State in the NEC preseason coaches' poll. They outhustled St. John's for 30 minutes but shot 29% percent from the field and 5 for 24 (21%) from 3-point range.

St. John's: The Red Storm went only 18 for 30 at the free-throw line (60%) in Pitino's first game coaching a Top 25 team since he was at Louisville.

Seahawks freshman Zavier Fitch lost a sneaker near midcourt late in the first half and Ezquerra dribbled the ball right off the footwear, allowing Simeon Wilcher to scoop up an easy steal for a layup that capped a 10-2 spurt and gave St. John's a 30-20 lead.

St. John's outscored Wagner 20-0 in fast-break points.

Wagner visits Seton Hall on Saturday, while St. John's will play New Mexico, coached by Pitino's son, Richard, on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

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1st Half
WAG
Seahawks
22
SJU
Red Storm
31

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Keyontae Lewis vs. Vince Iwuchukwu (Seahawks gains possession)
19:36		Brady Dunlap shooting foul (Keyontae Lewis draws the foul)
19:36	+1	Keyontae Lewis makes regular free throw 1 of 2	1-0
19:36	+1	Keyontae Lewis makes regular free throw 2 of 2	2-0
19:14		Deivon Smith turnover (lost ball) (Javier Ezquerra steals)
18:54		Zaire Williams misses three point jump shot
18:52		Vince Iwuchukwu defensive rebound
18:46		Deivon Smith offensive foul (Tyje Kelton draws the foul)
18:46		Deivon Smith turnover (offensive foul)
18:28		Javier Ezquerra misses three point jump shot
18:26		Simeon Wilcher defensive rebound
18:11	+3	Simeon Wilcher makes three point jump shot (Deivon Smith assists)	2-3
17:50		Keyontae Lewis offensive foul (Deivon Smith draws the foul)
17:50		Keyontae Lewis turnover (offensive foul)
17:42		Aaron Scott misses three point jump shot
17:40		Zae Blake defensive rebound
17:30		Keyontae Lewis misses two point jump shot
17:28		Deivon Smith defensive rebound
17:16	+2	Vince Iwuchukwu makes two point jump shot	2-5
16:51	+3	Tyje Kelton makes three point jump shot (Keyontae Lewis assists)	5-5
16:33		Keyontae Lewis blocks Vince Iwuchukwu's two point layup
16:31		Zae Blake defensive rebound
16:15		Zaire Williams misses three point jump shot
16:13		Javier Ezquerra offensive rebound
15:57		Javier Ezquerra turnover (lost ball) (Deivon Smith steals)
15:52		Zae Blake shooting foul (Deivon Smith draws the foul)
15:52		TV timeout
15:52	+1	Deivon Smith makes regular free throw 1 of 2	5-6
15:52	+1	Deivon Smith makes regular free throw 2 of 2	5-7
15:40		Zaire Williams turnover (bad pass) (Brady Dunlap steals)
15:29		Zuby Ejiofor misses two point layup
15:27		Keyontae Lewis defensive rebound
15:00		Javier Ezquerra misses three point jump shot
14:58		RJ Luis Jr. defensive rebound
14:43		Kadary Richmond turnover (bad pass)
14:12		Kadary Richmond blocks Rob Taylor II's two point layup
14:10		Rob Taylor II offensive rebound
14:10		Seahawks turnover (shot clock violation)
13:54		Deivon Smith misses three point jump shot
13:52		Red Storm offensive rebound
13:51		Zaire Williams personal foul (RJ Luis Jr. draws the foul)
13:48		Rob Taylor II shooting foul (Zuby Ejiofor draws the foul)
13:48		Zuby Ejiofor misses regular free throw 1 of 2
13:48		Zuby Ejiofor misses regular free throw 2 of 2
13:48		Zaire Williams defensive rebound
13:35	+2	Zavier Fitch makes two point layup	7-7
13:14	+3	Brady Dunlap makes three point jump shot (RJ Luis Jr. assists)	7-10
12:53		Zavier Fitch offensive foul (Brady Dunlap draws the foul)
12:53		Zavier Fitch turnover (offensive foul)
12:43	+2	RJ Luis Jr. makes two point layup (Simeon Wilcher assists)	7-12
12:43		Rob Taylor II shooting foul (RJ Luis Jr. draws the foul)
12:42		RJ Luis Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 1
12:42		Zaire Williams defensive rebound
12:17	+2	Javier Ezquerra makes two point jump shot (Keyontae Lewis assists)	9-12
11:55		Javier Ezquerra personal foul (RJ Luis Jr. draws the foul)
11:54		TV timeout
11:54	+1	RJ Luis Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	9-13
11:54	+1	RJ Luis Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	9-14
11:28		Zaire Williams misses three point jump shot
11:26		RJ Luis Jr. defensive rebound
11:21		Ja'Kair Sanchez shooting foul (RJ Luis Jr. draws the foul)
11:21		RJ Luis Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:21	+1	RJ Luis Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	9-15
10:56	+2	R.J. Greene makes two point layup (Javier Ezquerra assists)	11-15
10:56		Brady Dunlap shooting foul (R.J. Greene draws the foul)
10:56	+1	R.J. Greene makes regular free throw 1 of 1	12-15
10:36		Zae Blake shooting foul (Deivon Smith draws the foul)
10:36		Deivon Smith misses regular free throw 1 of 2
10:36	+1	Deivon Smith makes regular free throw 2 of 2	12-16
10:21		Javier Ezquerra turnover (traveling)
10:09		Simeon Wilcher turnover (lost ball) (R.J. Greene steals)
10:03		Zaire Williams misses three point jump shot
10:01		Zuby Ejiofor defensive rebound
9:58		R.J. Greene shooting foul (Simeon Wilcher draws the foul)
9:58	+1	Simeon Wilcher makes regular free throw 1 of 2	12-17
9:58	+1	Simeon Wilcher makes regular free throw 2 of 2	12-18
9:53		Kadary Richmond personal foul (Javier Ezquerra draws the foul)
9:41		Tyje Kelton misses three point jump shot
9:39		Tyje Kelton offensive rebound
9:33		Tyje Kelton misses two point layup
9:31		R.J. Greene offensive rebound
9:31	+2	R.J. Greene makes two point layup	14-18
9:31		Zuby Ejiofor shooting foul (R.J. Greene draws the foul)
9:31	+1	R.J. Greene makes regular free throw 1 of 1	15-18
9:25		Simeon Wilcher misses three point jump shot
9:23		Tyje Kelton defensive rebound
8:53		Simeon Wilcher blocks R.J. Greene's two point jump shot
8:51		Deivon Smith defensive rebound
8:40	+2	Kadary Richmond makes two point jump shot	15-20
8:40		Tyje Kelton shooting foul (Kadary Richmond draws the foul)
8:39		Kadary Richmond misses regular free throw 1 of 1
8:39		Zavier Fitch defensive rebound
8:13		Vince Iwuchukwu blocks R.J. Greene's two point layup
8:11		Vince Iwuchukwu defensive rebound
7:58		Vince Iwuchukwu turnover (lost ball) (Zavier Fitch steals)
7:40	+3	Javier Ezquerra makes three point jump shot (Zaire Williams assists)	18-20
7:31	+2	Aaron Scott makes two point dunk (Kadary Richmond assists)	18-22
7:05		Deivon Smith blocks R.J. Greene's two point layup
7:03		R.J. Greene offensive rebound
7:00		R.J. Greene misses two point layup
6:58		R.J. Greene offensive rebound
6:56		TV timeout
6:39		Tyje Kelton turnover (lost ball) (Aaron Scott steals)
6:36		Tyje Kelton personal foul (Aaron Scott draws the foul)
6:36	+1	Aaron Scott makes regular free throw 1 of 2	18-23
6:36	+1	Aaron Scott makes regular free throw 2 of 2	18-24
6:14		Keyontae Lewis misses two point layup
6:12		Keyontae Lewis offensive rebound
6:04	+2	Keyontae Lewis makes two point layup	20-24
5:56		RJ Luis Jr. misses two point jump shot
5:54		Zavier Fitch defensive rebound
5:26		Seahawks turnover (shot clock violation)
5:07		Aaron Scott misses three point jump shot
5:01		Simeon Wilcher offensive rebound
5:01		Jump ball. Simeon Wilcher vs. Keyontae Lewis (Red Storm gains possession)
5:01		R.J. Greene personal foul (RJ Luis Jr. draws the foul)
5:01		RJ Luis Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:01	+1	RJ Luis Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	20-25
4:59		Simeon Wilcher personal foul (Zaire Williams draws the foul)
4:40		Javier Ezquerra misses two point jump shot
4:38		Zuby Ejiofor defensive rebound
4:33		RJ Luis Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Zaire Williams steals)
4:06		Zaire Williams misses three point jump shot
4:04		Deivon Smith defensive rebound
3:57	+2	Deivon Smith makes two point layup	20-27
3:24		Zaire Williams turnover (bad pass) (RJ Luis Jr. steals)
3:19		Ja'Kair Sanchez shooting foul (RJ Luis Jr. draws the foul)
3:19		TV timeout
3:19		RJ Luis Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
3:19	+1	RJ Luis Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	20-28
2:57		Javier Ezquerra turnover (lost ball) (Simeon Wilcher steals)
2:49	+2	Simeon Wilcher makes two point layup	20-30
2:21		Zuby Ejiofor blocks Ja'Kair Sanchez's two point layup
2:19		Zavier Fitch offensive rebound
2:17	+2	Zavier Fitch makes two point layup	22-30
2:06		Di'Andre Howell-South shooting foul (RJ Luis Jr. draws the foul)
2:06		RJ Luis Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:06	+1	RJ Luis Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	22-31
1:41		Zaire Williams misses three point jump shot
1:39		Deivon Smith defensive rebound
1:26		Zuby Ejiofor turnover (traveling)
0:54		Zae Blake misses three point jump shot
0:52		Zuby Ejiofor defensive rebound
0:36		Simeon Wilcher turnover (bad pass) (Keyontae Lewis steals)
0:28		Seahawks 30 second timeout
0:09		Zaire Williams misses two point jump shot
0:08		Red Storm defensive rebound
0:08		Red Storm 30 second timeout
0:01		Deivon Smith misses two point jump shot
0:00		Keyontae Lewis defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
WAG
Seahawks
23
SJU
Red Storm
35

Time		Play	Score
19:49	+2	Simeon Wilcher makes two point jump shot (Deivon Smith assists)	22-33
19:33	+2	Keyontae Lewis makes two point jump shot (Javier Ezquerra assists)	24-33
19:15		Zuby Ejiofor turnover (bad pass)
18:55		Tyje Kelton misses two point jump shot
18:53		Zuby Ejiofor defensive rebound
18:45		Zaire Williams personal foul
18:35		Zuby Ejiofor misses two point jump shot
18:35		Seahawks defensive rebound
18:04		Javier Ezquerra misses three point jump shot
18:01		Kadary Richmond defensive rebound
17:49		Kadary Richmond misses two point jump shot
17:47		Seahawks defensive rebound
17:28		Javier Ezquerra misses three point jump shot
17:26		Deivon Smith defensive rebound
17:22		Zuby Ejiofor turnover (bad pass)
16:55		Zuby Ejiofor shooting foul (Zaire Williams draws the foul)
16:55	+1	Javier Ezquerra makes regular free throw 1 of 2	25-33
16:55	+1	Javier Ezquerra makes regular free throw 2 of 2	26-33
16:37		Kadary Richmond misses two point layup
16:35		Aaron Scott offensive rebound
16:34		Tyje Kelton personal foul (Aaron Scott draws the foul)
16:32		Aaron Scott misses two point jump shot
16:30		R.J. Greene defensive rebound
16:16		Kadary Richmond shooting foul (Zae Blake draws the foul)
16:16	+1	Zae Blake makes regular free throw 1 of 2	27-33
16:16	+1	Zae Blake makes regular free throw 2 of 2	28-33
15:56		Simeon Wilcher turnover (lost ball)
15:52		R.J. Greene turnover (lost ball)
15:52		TV timeout
15:33		RJ Luis Jr. misses three point jump shot
15:31		Red Storm offensive rebound
15:23		R.J. Greene personal foul (Kadary Richmond draws the foul)
15:16		Deivon Smith turnover (bad pass)
14:57	+2	Ja'Kair Sanchez makes two point jump shot (Zae Blake assists)	30-33
14:42		Red Storm 30 second timeout
14:42		TV timeout
14:34		Deivon Smith misses two point jump shot
14:32		Zavier Fitch defensive rebound
14:04		RJ Luis Jr. personal foul (Zae Blake draws the foul)
14:00		Ja'Kair Sanchez turnover (out of bounds)
13:41		Brady Dunlap misses three point jump shot
13:39		Zuby Ejiofor offensive rebound
13:39		Zae Blake personal foul (Zuby Ejiofor draws the foul)
13:38		Zuby Ejiofor turnover (traveling)
13:29		Zavier Fitch offensive foul
13:29		Zavier Fitch turnover (offensive foul)
13:08	+2	Zuby Ejiofor makes two point jump shot	30-35
12:54		Ja'Kair Sanchez turnover (bad pass)
12:45		Brady Dunlap misses two point jump shot
12:43		RJ Luis Jr. offensive rebound
12:42	+2	RJ Luis Jr. makes two point layup	30-37
12:42		Zavier Fitch shooting foul (RJ Luis Jr. draws the foul)
12:42	+1	RJ Luis Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1	30-38
12:25	+2	Rob Taylor II makes two point layup (Javier Ezquerra assists)	32-38
12:17		Rob Taylor II personal foul (Zuby Ejiofor draws the foul)
12:17	+1	Zuby Ejiofor makes regular free throw 1 of 2	32-39
12:17		Zuby Ejiofor misses regular free throw 2 of 2
12:17		Zaire Williams defensive rebound
11:50		Zuby Ejiofor blocks Ja'Kair Sanchez's two point jump shot
11:48		Deivon Smith defensive rebound
11:40		Simeon Wilcher misses three point jump shot
11:38		Tyje Kelton defensive rebound
11:16	+2	Zaire Williams makes two point layup	34-39
11:16		Simeon Wilcher shooting foul (Zaire Williams draws the foul)
11:16		TV timeout
11:16		Zaire Williams misses regular free throw 1 of 1
11:16		Tyje Kelton offensive rebound
10:53	+3	Javier Ezquerra makes three point jump shot	37-39
10:27		Brady Dunlap misses three point jump shot
10:27		Seahawks defensive rebound
10:00		Kadary Richmond blocks Ja'Kair Sanchez's two point jump shot
9:58		Kadary Richmond defensive rebound
9:51	+3	Deivon Smith makes three point jump shot (Kadary Richmond assists)	37-42
9:23		Ja'Kair Sanchez misses three point jump shot
9:21		RJ Luis Jr. defensive rebound
9:13	+2	RJ Luis Jr. makes two point layup	37-44
9:13		Seahawks 30 second timeout
8:50		Javier Ezquerra turnover (bad pass) (Deivon Smith steals)
8:47		Tyje Kelton personal foul (Deivon Smith draws the foul)
8:47	+1	Deivon Smith makes regular free throw 1 of 2	37-45
8:47		Deivon Smith misses regular free throw 2 of 2
8:45		Zaire Williams defensive rebound
8:23		Zae Blake misses three point jump shot
8:21		RJ Luis Jr. defensive rebound
8:09	+3	Brady Dunlap makes three point jump shot (Kadary Richmond assists)	37-48
7:39		Javier Ezquerra misses three point jump shot
7:37		Zuby Ejiofor defensive rebound
7:23	+3	Zuby Ejiofor makes three point jump shot (Deivon Smith assists)	37-51
7:02		Zaire Williams misses two point jump shot
7:02		Seahawks offensive rebound
7:01		TV timeout
6:45		R.J. Greene misses two point layup
6:38		Kadary Richmond defensive rebound
6:38	+3	Aaron Scott makes three point jump shot (Kadary Richmond assists)	37-54
6:04		Zae Blake misses three point jump shot
6:02		R.J. Greene offensive rebound
5:56		Aaron Scott blocks Rob Taylor II's two point layup
5:56		Deivon Smith defensive rebound
5:48	+2	Brady Dunlap makes two point jump shot	37-56
5:48		Zae Blake shooting foul (Brady Dunlap draws the foul)
5:48	+1	Brady Dunlap makes regular free throw 1 of 1	37-57
5:25	+3	Tyje Kelton makes three point jump shot (R.J. Greene assists)	40-57
5:13		Aaron Scott misses three point jump shot
5:11		R.J. Greene defensive rebound
4:43		Tyje Kelton misses three point jump shot
4:41		Simeon Wilcher defensive rebound
4:33		Kadary Richmond misses three point jump shot
4:31		Ja'Kair Sanchez defensive rebound
4:29		Jump ball. Zuby Ejiofor vs. Ja'Kair Sanchez (Red Storm gains possession)
4:30		Ja'Kair Sanchez turnover (lost ball) (Zuby Ejiofor steals)
4:30		Jump ball. Zuby Ejiofor vs. Ja'Kair Sanchez (Seahawks gains possession)
4:30		Zuby Ejiofor turnover (lost ball) (Ja'Kair Sanchez steals)
4:07		Zae Blake misses two point jump shot
4:05		Deivon Smith defensive rebound
3:51	+2	Zuby Ejiofor makes two point dunk (Kadary Richmond assists)	40-59
3:31		R.J. Greene misses two point jump shot
3:29		Simeon Wilcher defensive rebound
3:21	+2	Aaron Scott makes two point jump shot (Kadary Richmond assists)	40-61
3:07		Seahawks 30 second timeout
3:07		TV timeout
2:45		Javier Ezquerra misses three point jump shot
2:43		Ruben Prey defensive rebound
2:37	+2	Aaron Scott makes two point layup (Kadary Richmond assists)	40-63
2:07		Zae Blake misses three point jump shot
2:05		Kadary Richmond defensive rebound
1:57		Deivon Smith misses three point jump shot
1:55		Ruben Prey offensive rebound
1:48	+2	Ruben Prey makes two point layup (Simeon Wilcher assists)	40-65
1:26	+2	Zavier Fitch makes two point layup (Zae Blake assists)	42-65
1:12		Zavier Fitch shooting foul (Jaiden Glover draws the foul)
1:12		Jaiden Glover misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:12	+1	Jaiden Glover makes regular free throw 2 of 2	42-66
0:43	+3	Zae Blake makes three point jump shot (Ja'Kair Sanchez assists)	45-66
0:24		Deivon Smith turnover (bad pass) (Ja'Kair Sanchez steals)
0:16		Di'Andre Howell-South misses two point layup
0:14		Lefteris Liotopoulos defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Lefteris Liotopoulos defensive rebound