STJOHN

BUTLER

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No. 7 St. John’s tops Butler 76-70 to clinch share of 1st Big East regular-season title in 33 years

AP
Feb 27, 2025

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) RJ Luis Jr. scored 24 points and No. 7 St. John’s clinched a share of its first Big East regular-season title in 33 years by beating Butler 76-70 on Wednesday night.

Kadary Richmond had 13 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals for the Red Storm (25-4, 16-2), who set a school record for conference wins and secured the program's sixth Big East regular-season championship.

They can wrap up an outright league crown Saturday with a victory over Seton Hall at Madison Square Garden or a Creighton loss at Xavier. The only outright Big East regular-season title for St. John's came in 1985 on the way to a Final Four appearance.

“We are not interested in sharing anything,” said 72-year-old Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, who has led a remarkable turnaround in two seasons at St. John's. “I’ll share other things in my life. I’m not interested in sharing championships.”

Zuby Ejiofor added 12 points for the Johnnies, playing with their highest ranking in the AP Top 25 poll since December 1991. St. John's tied Georgetown and Seton Hall for the Big East crown that season - the final one in Queens for coaching great Lou Carnesecca, who died Nov. 30 just a few weeks shy of his 100th birthday.

Jahmyl Telfort had 13 points and seven rebounds for Butler (13-15, 6-11), held to 39% shooting.

St. John’s: On a night when the Red Storm struggled to create separation, they still showed their postseason potential by applying their customary defensive pressure. Butler shot 6 for 27 from 3-point range.

Butler: Has lost the last five meetings with St. John’s.

With the majority of the Hinkle Fieldhouse crowd on its feet, Ejiofor posted up 7-foot-1 Butler center Andre Screen and scored on a left-handed hook shot to extend the St. John’s lead to 70-66 with 59 seconds remaining. When the Bulldogs turned the ball over on their ensuing possession and committed a foul, fans began streaming toward the exits.

Butler held a 39-32 edge on the boards but was still outscored 18-12 in second-chance points.

St. John’s hosts Seton Hall on Saturday, while Butler visits Villanova.

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1st Half
SJU
Red Storm
38
BUT
Bulldogs
32

Time		Play	Score
20:00		(Red Storm gains possession)
19:41	+2	Kadary Richmond makes two point jump shot	2-0
19:21	+3	Boden Kapke makes three point jump shot (Patrick McCaffery assists)	2-3
19:02	+3	RJ Luis Jr. makes three point jump shot (Zuby Ejiofor assists)	5-3
18:46		Patrick McCaffery misses three point jump shot
18:44		Red Storm defensive rebound
18:25	+2	RJ Luis Jr. makes two point jump shot	7-3
18:04	+2	Finley Bizjack makes two point layup	7-5
17:53	+2	Deivon Smith makes two point jump shot	9-5
17:22		Finley Bizjack misses three point jump shot
17:20		Boden Kapke offensive rebound
17:17	+2	Boden Kapke makes two point layup	9-7
16:58		RJ Luis Jr. misses three point jump shot
16:56		Aaron Scott offensive rebound
16:50		Aaron Scott misses three point jump shot
16:48		Jahmyl Telfort defensive rebound
16:38		Pierre Brooks II misses three point jump shot
16:37		Boden Kapke offensive rebound
16:37		RJ Luis Jr. personal foul
16:21		Kadary Richmond blocks Jahmyl Telfort's two point jump shot
16:19		Kadary Richmond defensive rebound
16:09		RJ Luis Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Pierre Brooks II steals)
16:03		Patrick McCaffery misses three point jump shot
16:01		Kadary Richmond defensive rebound
15:54	+2	Kadary Richmond makes two point jump shot	11-7
15:29		Patrick McCaffery turnover (lost ball) (Aaron Scott steals)
15:25	+2	RJ Luis Jr. makes two point dunk (Zuby Ejiofor assists)	13-7
15:06		Finley Bizjack turnover (bad pass) (RJ Luis Jr. steals)
15:02		RJ Luis Jr. misses two point dunk
15:00		Zuby Ejiofor offensive rebound
14:54	+2	Zuby Ejiofor makes two point dunk	15-7
14:35		Pierre Brooks II misses three point jump shot
14:33		Andre Screen offensive rebound
14:29		Andre Screen turnover (lost ball) (Kadary Richmond steals)
14:24		Deivon Smith misses three point jump shot
14:22		Aaron Scott offensive rebound
14:11	+2	Zuby Ejiofor makes two point layup (Kadary Richmond assists)	17-7
14:10		Bulldogs 30 second timeout
14:10		TV timeout
14:04		Zuby Ejiofor personal foul
13:40		Jahmyl Telfort misses three point jump shot
13:38		Aaron Scott defensive rebound
13:29		RJ Luis Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Andre Screen steals)
13:23	+2	Pierre Brooks II makes two point layup (Kolby King assists)	17-9
13:07		RJ Luis Jr. misses two point jump shot
13:05		Jahmyl Telfort defensive rebound
12:53		Pierre Brooks II turnover (bad pass) (Aaron Scott steals)
12:46		Deivon Smith misses three point jump shot
12:44		Jahmyl Telfort defensive rebound
12:34		Pierre Brooks II misses three point jump shot
12:32		Deivon Smith defensive rebound
12:28		Landon Moore shooting foul
12:28	+1	Kadary Richmond makes regular free throw 1 of 2	18-9
12:28		Kadary Richmond misses regular free throw 2 of 2
12:28		Vince Iwuchukwu offensive rebound
12:24		Vince Iwuchukwu misses two point jump shot
12:22		Jahmyl Telfort defensive rebound
12:02	+2	Boden Kapke makes two point dunk (Landon Moore assists)	18-11
11:42	+2	Vince Iwuchukwu makes two point hook shot	20-11
11:18		Boden Kapke misses three point jump shot
11:16		Sadiku Ibine Ayo defensive rebound
11:12		Sadiku Ibine Ayo turnover (bad pass) (Kolby King steals)
11:12		Sadiku Ibine Ayo shooting foul
11:12		TV timeout
11:12		Kolby King misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:12	+1	Kolby King makes regular free throw 2 of 2	20-12
11:00		Simeon Wilcher turnover (bad pass) (Boden Kapke steals)
10:35	+2	Jahmyl Telfort makes two point layup	20-14
10:13		Simeon Wilcher misses two point jump shot
10:11		Patrick McCaffery defensive rebound
10:04		Boden Kapke misses three point jump shot
10:02		Vince Iwuchukwu defensive rebound
9:49		Deivon Smith misses two point jump shot
9:47		Kolby King defensive rebound
9:38		Deivon Smith personal foul
9:24	+3	Pierre Brooks II makes three point jump shot (Landon Moore assists)	20-17
9:05		Boden Kapke personal foul
8:58	+2	Simeon Wilcher makes two point jump shot	22-17
8:33		Finley Bizjack misses three point jump shot
8:31		Deivon Smith defensive rebound
8:17	+3	RJ Luis Jr. makes three point jump shot (Zuby Ejiofor assists)	25-17
7:45	+3	Pierre Brooks II makes three point jump shot	25-20
7:32	+3	Aaron Scott makes three point jump shot (RJ Luis Jr. assists)	28-20
7:22		Zuby Ejiofor personal foul
7:22		TV timeout
7:20	+2	Jahmyl Telfort makes two point layup (Finley Bizjack assists)	28-22
6:48		Deivon Smith misses three point jump shot
6:46		Finley Bizjack defensive rebound
6:39	+2	Pierre Brooks II makes two point layup	28-24
6:10		Landon Moore blocks Deivon Smith's two point layup
6:08		Deivon Smith offensive rebound
6:02	+2	Deivon Smith makes two point layup	30-24
5:43		Andre Screen misses two point layup
5:41		RJ Luis Jr. defensive rebound
5:29	+2	Deivon Smith makes two point jump shot	32-24
5:06		Finley Bizjack misses two point jump shot
5:04		Bulldogs offensive rebound
4:47	+2	Kolby King makes two point jump shot (Andre Screen assists)	32-26
4:26	+2	Vince Iwuchukwu makes two point dunk (Kadary Richmond assists)	34-26
4:15		Bulldogs 30 second timeout
3:54	+2	Pierre Brooks II makes two point jump shot (Patrick McCaffery assists)	34-28
3:31		RJ Luis Jr. misses three point jump shot
3:29		Kolby King defensive rebound
3:23		Kolby King misses three point jump shot
3:21		Patrick McCaffery offensive rebound
3:04		Patrick McCaffery misses three point jump shot
3:02		Kadary Richmond defensive rebound
2:47		Vince Iwuchukwu misses two point jump shot
2:45		Andre Screen defensive rebound
2:21	+2	Andre Screen makes two point layup	34-30
2:04		Aaron Scott misses three point jump shot
2:04		Kolby King defensive rebound
2:02		Vince Iwuchukwu personal foul
1:46		Pierre Brooks II misses two point jump shot
1:44		Aaron Scott defensive rebound
1:36	+2	Vince Iwuchukwu makes two point layup (Deivon Smith assists)	36-30
1:17		Jahmyl Telfort turnover (bad pass) (Kadary Richmond steals)
1:10	+2	RJ Luis Jr. makes two point layup (Kadary Richmond assists)	38-30
0:42		Pierre Brooks II misses three point jump shot
0:40		Boden Kapke offensive rebound
0:37		Boden Kapke misses two point layup
0:35		Boden Kapke offensive rebound
0:35		Vince Iwuchukwu shooting foul
0:35		Red Storm 30 second timeout
0:35	+1	Boden Kapke makes regular free throw 1 of 2	38-31
0:35	+1	Boden Kapke makes regular free throw 2 of 2	38-32
0:06		Deivon Smith misses three point jump shot
0:04		Bulldogs defensive rebound
0:01		Simeon Wilcher blocks Kolby King's two point jump shot
0:00		Bulldogs offensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
SJU
Red Storm
38
BUT
Bulldogs
38

Time		Play	Score
19:53	+2	Finley Bizjack makes two point layup	38-34
19:35	+2	Kadary Richmond makes two point jump shot	40-34
19:00	+3	Jahmyl Telfort makes three point jump shot (Finley Bizjack assists)	40-37
18:35		Deivon Smith misses two point jump shot
18:33		Deivon Smith offensive rebound
18:26	+3	RJ Luis Jr. makes three point jump shot (Deivon Smith assists)	43-37
18:12		Aaron Scott personal foul
18:08	+2	Patrick McCaffery makes two point layup (Finley Bizjack assists)	43-39
17:56	+2	Deivon Smith makes two point layup	45-39
17:35	+3	Patrick McCaffery makes three point jump shot (Jahmyl Telfort assists)	45-42
17:19		Kadary Richmond misses three point jump shot
17:17		Pierre Brooks II defensive rebound
17:04		Finley Bizjack misses three point jump shot
17:02		RJ Luis Jr. defensive rebound
16:58		RJ Luis Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Finley Bizjack steals)
16:51		Finley Bizjack misses two point layup
16:50		Patrick McCaffery offensive rebound
16:50	+2	Patrick McCaffery makes two point layup	45-44
16:50		Red Storm 30 second timeout
16:50		TV timeout
16:37		Andre Screen blocks Zuby Ejiofor's two point layup
16:35		Jahmyl Telfort defensive rebound
16:09		Finley Bizjack misses two point jump shot
16:07		Andre Screen offensive rebound
16:07		Andre Screen misses two point layup
16:05		RJ Luis Jr. defensive rebound
16:05		Andre Screen personal foul (RJ Luis Jr. draws the foul)
15:51		TV timeout
15:46		Kadary Richmond misses two point jump shot
15:44		RJ Luis Jr. offensive rebound
15:38	+2	RJ Luis Jr. makes two point layup	47-44
15:33		Bulldogs 30 second timeout
15:10		Finley Bizjack misses three point jump shot
15:08		Kadary Richmond defensive rebound
15:03		Jahmyl Telfort personal foul
14:44		RJ Luis Jr. misses three point jump shot
14:42		Zuby Ejiofor offensive rebound
14:41		Jahmyl Telfort personal foul
14:27		Andre Screen blocks Zuby Ejiofor's two point hook shot
14:25		Pierre Brooks II defensive rebound
14:25		Aaron Scott personal foul (Pierre Brooks II draws the foul)
14:24		Pierre Brooks II turnover (traveling)
14:14		Andre Screen shooting foul (Zuby Ejiofor draws the foul)
14:14	+1	Zuby Ejiofor makes regular free throw 1 of 2	48-44
14:14	+1	Zuby Ejiofor makes regular free throw 2 of 2	49-44
13:55		Kolby King misses three point jump shot
13:53		Jahmyl Telfort offensive rebound
13:48		Pierre Brooks II misses three point jump shot
13:46		Aaron Scott defensive rebound
13:39	+2	Kadary Richmond makes two point layup	51-44
13:09		Jahmyl Telfort misses three point jump shot
13:07		Patrick McCaffery offensive rebound
13:03	+2	Andre Screen makes two point layup (Pierre Brooks II assists)	51-46
12:55		Andre Screen personal foul (Zuby Ejiofor draws the foul)
12:44		Aaron Scott misses three point jump shot
12:42		Landon Moore defensive rebound
12:29		Zuby Ejiofor shooting foul (Boden Kapke draws the foul)
12:29	+1	Boden Kapke makes regular free throw 1 of 3	51-47
12:29	+1	Boden Kapke makes regular free throw 2 of 3	51-48
12:29	+1	Boden Kapke makes regular free throw 3 of 3	51-49
12:12		RJ Luis Jr. offensive foul
12:12		RJ Luis Jr. turnover (offensive foul)
11:47		Deivon Smith personal foul
11:47		TV timeout
11:27		Finley Bizjack misses three point jump shot
11:25		Bulldogs offensive rebound
11:25		Bulldogs turnover (shot clock violation)
11:17		Deivon Smith turnover (lost ball) (Kolby King steals)
11:16		Deivon Smith shooting foul (Kolby King draws the foul)
11:16	+1	Kolby King makes regular free throw 1 of 2	51-50
11:16	+1	Kolby King makes regular free throw 2 of 2	51-51
10:58		Kadary Richmond misses two point layup
10:56		Vince Iwuchukwu offensive rebound
10:56		Boden Kapke shooting foul (Vince Iwuchukwu draws the foul)
10:56	+1	Vince Iwuchukwu makes regular free throw 1 of 2	52-51
10:56		Vince Iwuchukwu misses regular free throw 2 of 2
10:56		Patrick McCaffery defensive rebound
10:42		Patrick McCaffery turnover (lost ball)
10:31		Deivon Smith misses two point jump shot
10:29		Aaron Scott offensive rebound
10:24	+2	Aaron Scott makes two point layup	54-51
10:14		Kolby King misses three point jump shot
10:08		Bulldogs offensive rebound
10:01	+2	Jahmyl Telfort makes two point layup	54-53
9:45		RJ Luis Jr. offensive foul
9:45		RJ Luis Jr. turnover (offensive foul)
9:23		Jahmyl Telfort turnover (lost ball) (Kadary Richmond steals)
9:16		Boden Kapke shooting foul (Aaron Scott draws the foul)
9:16	+1	Kadary Richmond makes regular free throw 1 of 2	55-53
9:16	+1	Kadary Richmond makes regular free throw 2 of 2	56-53
8:55		Simeon Wilcher personal foul (Landon Moore draws the foul)
8:55	+1	Landon Moore makes regular free throw 1 of 2	56-54
8:55		Landon Moore misses regular free throw 2 of 2
8:55		Bulldogs offensive rebound
8:33		Pierre Brooks II misses two point jump shot
8:33		Kolby King offensive rebound
8:33		Kolby King turnover
8:13		Kadary Richmond misses two point jump shot
8:11		Kolby King defensive rebound
8:02		Kolby King misses two point layup
8:00		Deivon Smith defensive rebound
7:54		Deivon Smith misses two point jump shot
7:52		Kolby King defensive rebound
7:38	+2	Kolby King makes two point layup	56-56
7:38		Vince Iwuchukwu shooting foul (Kolby King draws the foul)
7:38		TV timeout
7:38	+1	Kolby King makes regular free throw 1 of 1	56-57
7:26	+2	RJ Luis Jr. makes two point jump shot	58-57
7:06		Kolby King turnover (lost ball) (Deivon Smith steals)
6:56	+2	Aaron Scott makes two point jump shot	60-57
6:24		Aaron Scott personal foul (Jahmyl Telfort draws the foul)
6:24	+1	Jahmyl Telfort makes regular free throw 1 of 2	60-58
6:24	+1	Jahmyl Telfort makes regular free throw 2 of 2	60-59
6:15		Aaron Scott misses two point jump shot
6:13		Jahmyl Telfort defensive rebound
6:03		Pierre Brooks II misses two point hook shot
6:01		Zuby Ejiofor defensive rebound
5:55		RJ Luis Jr. misses two point layup
5:53		Zuby Ejiofor offensive rebound
5:46	+2	Zuby Ejiofor makes two point layup	62-59
5:32		Jahmyl Telfort misses two point hook shot
5:30		Kadary Richmond defensive rebound
5:26	+2	RJ Luis Jr. makes two point dunk (Kadary Richmond assists)	64-59
4:58		Landon Moore turnover (bad pass) (RJ Luis Jr. steals)
4:35		Kolby King personal foul (Zuby Ejiofor draws the foul)
4:35		Zuby Ejiofor misses regular free throw 1 of 1
4:35		Andre Screen defensive rebound
4:15		Pierre Brooks II misses two point layup
3:57		Zuby Ejiofor misses two point hook shot
3:55		Andre Screen defensive rebound
3:43		Aaron Scott personal foul (Finley Bizjack draws the foul)
3:43		TV timeout
3:43	+1	Finley Bizjack makes regular free throw 1 of 2	64-60
3:43	+1	Finley Bizjack makes regular free throw 2 of 2	64-61
3:17		Kadary Richmond turnover (bad pass) (Finley Bizjack steals)
2:49		Jahmyl Telfort misses two point jump shot
2:47		Kadary Richmond defensive rebound
2:41	+2	Zuby Ejiofor makes two point hook shot (Kadary Richmond assists)	66-61
2:14	+3	Kolby King makes three point jump shot (Jahmyl Telfort assists)	66-64
1:59		Red Storm 30 second timeout
1:48		Kolby King personal foul (RJ Luis Jr. draws the foul)
1:48	+1	RJ Luis Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	67-64
1:48	+1	RJ Luis Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	68-64
1:48		Bulldogs 60 second timeout
1:29		RJ Luis Jr. shooting foul (Patrick McCaffery draws the foul)
1:29	+1	Patrick McCaffery makes regular free throw 1 of 2	68-65
1:29	+1	Patrick McCaffery makes regular free throw 2 of 2	68-66
1:06		Andre Screen blocks RJ Luis Jr.'s two point layup
1:04		Red Storm offensive rebound
1:01	+2	Zuby Ejiofor makes two point jump shot	70-66
0:43		Jahmyl Telfort turnover (lost ball)
0:35		Patrick McCaffery personal foul
0:35	+1	RJ Luis Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	71-66
0:35		RJ Luis Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:35		Bulldogs defensive rebound
0:23		Kolby King misses two point layup
0:23		Deivon Smith defensive rebound
0:23		Boden Kapke personal foul (Deivon Smith draws the foul)
0:23	+1	Deivon Smith makes regular free throw 1 of 2	72-66
0:23	+1	Deivon Smith makes regular free throw 2 of 2	73-66
0:23		Red Storm 60 second timeout
0:13	+2	Jahmyl Telfort makes two point layup (Finley Bizjack assists)	73-68
0:11		Jahmyl Telfort personal foul (Aaron Scott draws the foul)
0:11	+1	Aaron Scott makes regular free throw 1 of 2	74-68
0:11		Aaron Scott misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:11		Finley Bizjack defensive rebound
0:06	+2	Finley Bizjack makes two point layup	74-70
0:03		Kolby King personal foul (Kadary Richmond draws the foul)
0:03	+1	Kadary Richmond makes regular free throw 1 of 2	75-70
0:03	+1	Kadary Richmond makes regular free throw 2 of 2	76-70
0:00		Jahmyl Telfort misses three point jump shot
0:00		End of period

Jahmyl Telfort misses three point jump shot