IONA

STJOHN

No. 22 St. John’s beats coach Rick Pitino's former team Iona, 91-64

AP
Dec 13, 2025

NEW YORK (AP) Oziyah Sellers scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half, Zuby Ejiofor tied a career-high by blocking eight shots for the second straight game and No. 22 St. John’s survived a difficult start and pulled away for a 91-64 victory over Iona Gaels on Saturday.

Sellers made four 3s in the second half and shot 7 of 13. He had his second-best showing of the season after shooting 3 of 15 in the previous two games against Auburn and Ole Miss.

Ejiofor also had six points and 10 rebounds. Ian Jackson added 14 points in his return to the starting lineup. Joson Sanon and Bryce Hopkins each had 13 points.

St. John’s (6-3) missed 12 of its first 13 shots, but wound up shooting 51.7% and scored at least 90 points for the sixth time this season

C.J. Anthony scored 20 for Iona (8-4), which shot 38%.

It was the first meeting between the teams since coach Rick Pitino left Iona to coach St. John’s in March 2023. Pitino led Iona to a 64-22 record and two NCAA Tournament appearances in three seasons at the school before returning to the Big East.

Sanon sank two 3s in the final 84 seconds to put St. John’s up 36-26 by halftime. Iona cut the lead to 48-44 on a 3 by Anthony with 14:22 left before the Red Storm pulled away.

The Red Storm scored 10 points straight for a 58-44 lead when Sellers hit a corner 3 with 11:31 left and took a 71-50 lead on a layup by Sellers with 7:23 left.

Iona: Will visit Vermont on Dec. 20.

St. John’s: Will host DePaul in its Big East opener on Tuesday.

---

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

1st Half
IONA
Gaels
26
SJU
Red Storm
36

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Lamin Sabally vs. Zuby Ejiofor (Ian Jackson gains possession)
19:45		Kosy Akametu blocks Zuby Ejiofor's two point layup
19:43		Bryce Hopkins offensive rebound
19:36	+2	Bryce Hopkins makes two point layup	0-2
19:18	+3	CJ Anthony makes three point jump shot (Kosy Akametu assists)	3-2
18:58		Bryce Hopkins misses two point jump shot
18:56		Lamin Sabally defensive rebound
18:34	+2	Kosy Akametu makes two point layup (CJ Anthony assists)	5-2
18:12		Bryce Hopkins offensive foul
18:12		Bryce Hopkins turnover (offensive foul)
17:54		CJ Anthony misses three point jump shot
17:52		Zuby Ejiofor defensive rebound
17:48		Ian Jackson turnover (bad pass) (CJ Anthony steals)
17:41		Lamin Sabally turnover (lost ball) (Ian Jackson steals)
17:35		Joson Sanon misses three point jump shot
17:33		Oziyah Sellers offensive rebound
17:23		Oziyah Sellers misses two point layup
17:21		Keshawn Williams defensive rebound
17:14		Keshawn Williams misses three point jump shot
17:12		Oziyah Sellers defensive rebound
17:11		Oziyah Sellers misses three point jump shot
17:11		Red Storm offensive rebound
17:11		Lamin Sabally personal foul
17:08		Zuby Ejiofor turnover (lost ball) (CJ Anthony steals)
17:01	+2	CJ Anthony makes two point layup	7-2
16:51		Ian Jackson misses three point jump shot
16:49		Toby Harris defensive rebound
16:37		Alliou Fall misses two point jump shot
16:35		Joson Sanon defensive rebound
16:32		Alliou Fall personal foul
16:20		Ian Jackson misses three point jump shot
16:18		Toby Harris defensive rebound
16:07		Lamin Sabally turnover (bad pass)
15:41		Dillon Mitchell misses two point hook shot
15:39		Lamin Sabally defensive rebound
15:13		Zuby Ejiofor blocks Lamin Sabally's two point layup
15:12		Gaels offensive rebound
15:12		TV timeout
15:09	+3	Toby Harris makes three point jump shot (CJ Anthony assists)	10-2
14:43		Alliou Fall blocks Ian Jackson's two point layup
14:41		Denver Anglin defensive rebound
14:36		CJ Anthony misses three point jump shot
14:35		Red Storm defensive rebound
14:35		Alliou Fall personal foul
14:26		Denver Anglin shooting foul (Joson Sanon draws the foul)
14:26	+1	Joson Sanon makes regular free throw 1 of 3	10-3
14:26	+1	Joson Sanon makes regular free throw 2 of 3	10-4
14:26	+1	Joson Sanon makes regular free throw 3 of 3	10-5
14:14		Luke Jungers misses three point jump shot
14:12		Ian Jackson defensive rebound
14:07		Joson Sanon offensive foul
14:07		Joson Sanon turnover (offensive foul)
14:07		Lamin Sabally turnover (traveling)
13:53		Ruben Prey misses two point layup
13:51		Ruben Prey offensive rebound
13:48		Ian Jackson misses three point jump shot
13:46		Kelvin Odih offensive rebound
13:39		Dylan Darling misses two point jump shot
13:37		Toby Harris defensive rebound
13:29		Lamin Sabally misses two point layup
13:27		Ruben Prey defensive rebound
13:18		Toby Harris personal foul
13:09		Dylan Darling turnover (lost ball) (Alliou Fall steals)
12:46		Keshawn Williams misses two point jump shot
12:44		Bryce Hopkins defensive rebound
12:31	+2	Zuby Ejiofor makes two point layup	10-7
12:16		Kosy Akametu misses two point jump shot
12:14		Zuby Ejiofor defensive rebound
12:04		Dylan Darling misses two point jump shot
12:02		Gaels defensive rebound
11:47		Toby Harris misses three point jump shot
11:45		Red Storm defensive rebound
11:45		TV timeout
11:33	+2	Oziyah Sellers makes two point layup (Zuby Ejiofor assists)	10-9
11:33		Keshawn Williams shooting foul (Oziyah Sellers draws the foul)
11:33	+1	Oziyah Sellers makes regular free throw 1 of 1	10-10
11:25	+2	Kosy Akametu makes two point dunk	12-10
11:17		Oziyah Sellers misses two point layup
11:15		Kelvin Odih offensive rebound
11:11	+2	Kelvin Odih makes two point layup	12-12
10:55		Toby Harris misses three point jump shot
10:53		Oziyah Sellers defensive rebound
10:44	+3	Lefteris Liotopoulos makes three point jump shot (Oziyah Sellers assists)	12-15
10:34		Gaels 30 second timeout
10:34		Lefteris Liotopoulos personal foul
10:18		Kosy Akametu misses two point layup
10:16		Alliou Fall offensive rebound
10:16		Jump ball. Alliou Fall vs. Bryce Hopkins (Alliou Fall gains possession)
10:05		Kosy Akametu turnover (bad pass) (Bryce Hopkins steals)
9:55	+2	Bryce Hopkins makes two point jump shot	12-17
9:45		Kosy Akametu misses three point jump shot
9:43		Joson Sanon defensive rebound
9:28		Zuby Ejiofor turnover (bad pass) (Keshawn Williams steals)
9:21		Zuby Ejiofor blocks Keshawn Williams's two point layup
9:19		Toby Harris offensive rebound
9:18		Denver Anglin misses three point jump shot
9:16		Bryce Hopkins defensive rebound
9:16		Alliou Fall personal foul (Bryce Hopkins draws the foul)
9:16		Bryce Hopkins misses regular free throw 1 of 1
9:16		Toby Harris defensive rebound
8:57		CJ Anthony misses two point jump shot
8:55		Zuby Ejiofor defensive rebound
8:49	+3	Joson Sanon makes three point jump shot	12-20
8:32		Zuby Ejiofor personal foul
8:25	+2	CJ Anthony makes two point layup	14-20
8:04		Zuby Ejiofor misses three point jump shot
8:02		CJ Anthony defensive rebound
7:54		Toby Harris misses two point jump shot
7:52		Lamin Sabally offensive rebound
7:35		Denver Anglin misses two point jump shot
7:33		Lefteris Liotopoulos defensive rebound
7:27		CJ Anthony shooting foul (Lefteris Liotopoulos draws the foul)
7:27		TV timeout
7:27		Lefteris Liotopoulos misses regular free throw 1 of 2
7:27	+1	Lefteris Liotopoulos makes regular free throw 2 of 2	14-21
7:00		CJ Anthony misses three point jump shot
6:58		Joson Sanon defensive rebound
6:51		Joson Sanon misses three point jump shot
6:49		Zuby Ejiofor offensive rebound
6:45		Zuby Ejiofor turnover (lost ball) (Luke Jungers steals)
6:29		Zuby Ejiofor blocks Lamin Sabally's two point layup
6:27		Khalil Badru offensive rebound
6:23	+2	Khalil Badru makes two point layup	16-21
6:09		Chase Cormier personal foul (Lefteris Liotopoulos draws the foul)
6:09	+1	Lefteris Liotopoulos makes regular free throw 1 of 2	16-22
6:09	+1	Lefteris Liotopoulos makes regular free throw 2 of 2	16-23
5:49		Khalil Badru turnover (bad pass) (Ian Jackson steals)
5:40		Joson Sanon turnover (lost ball) (Khalil Badru steals)
5:31	+2	Lamin Sabally makes two point layup	18-23
5:27	+2	Dillon Mitchell makes two point layup	18-25
5:01		Lefteris Liotopoulos personal foul
4:54		CJ Anthony misses two point jump shot
4:52		Joson Sanon defensive rebound
4:43	+2	Ian Jackson makes two point layup	18-27
4:27		Luke Jungers turnover (bad pass) (Ruben Prey steals)
4:16		Lamin Sabally shooting foul (Ian Jackson draws the foul)
4:16	+1	Ian Jackson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	18-28
4:16	+1	Ian Jackson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	18-29
4:15		Ian Jackson personal foul
4:00		Kosy Akametu turnover (bad pass)
4:00		TV timeout
3:41		Kosy Akametu personal foul (Dillon Mitchell draws the foul)
3:41	+1	Dillon Mitchell makes regular free throw 1 of 2	18-30
3:41		Dillon Mitchell misses regular free throw 2 of 2
3:41		Kosy Akametu defensive rebound
3:16	+2	Lamin Sabally makes two point layup	20-30
2:55		Ian Jackson turnover (lost ball)
2:35		Lamin Sabally misses two point layup
2:33		Ian Jackson defensive rebound
2:28		Oziyah Sellers misses three point jump shot
2:26		Kosy Akametu defensive rebound
2:21	+2	Toby Harris makes two point jump shot (CJ Anthony assists)	22-30
2:11		Joson Sanon misses three point jump shot
2:09		Lamin Sabally defensive rebound
1:55	+2	Lamin Sabally makes two point jump shot	24-30
1:52		Red Storm 30 second timeout
1:25	+3	Joson Sanon makes three point jump shot (Zuby Ejiofor assists)	24-33
0:58	+2	Lamin Sabally makes two point jump shot	26-33
0:41	+3	Joson Sanon makes three point jump shot	26-36
0:09		Zuby Ejiofor blocks Lamin Sabally's two point jump shot
0:07		Zuby Ejiofor defensive rebound
0:04		Joson Sanon turnover (lost ball)
0:00		Toby Harris misses three point jump shot
0:00		Gaels offensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
IONA
Gaels
38
SJU
Red Storm
55

Time		Play	Score
19:47		Ian Jackson turnover (bad pass) (CJ Anthony steals)
19:23	+2	Toby Harris makes two point jump shot	28-36
19:07		Joson Sanon misses three point jump shot
19:05		Lamin Sabally defensive rebound
18:56	+2	CJ Anthony makes two point layup	30-36
18:33		Ian Jackson misses three point jump shot
18:31		Zuby Ejiofor offensive rebound
18:29		Alliou Fall shooting foul (Zuby Ejiofor draws the foul)
18:29	+1	Zuby Ejiofor makes regular free throw 1 of 2	30-37
18:29	+1	Zuby Ejiofor makes regular free throw 2 of 2	30-38
18:16		Joson Sanon shooting foul (Lamin Sabally draws the foul)
18:16	+1	Lamin Sabally makes regular free throw 1 of 2	31-38
18:16		Lamin Sabally misses regular free throw 2 of 2
18:16		Zuby Ejiofor defensive rebound
17:49	+3	Oziyah Sellers makes three point jump shot (Ian Jackson assists)	31-41
17:24		Matt Reed misses two point jump shot
17:22		Ian Jackson defensive rebound
17:08		Oziyah Sellers misses two point layup
17:06		Matt Reed defensive rebound
17:01	+3	Denver Anglin makes three point jump shot	34-41
16:36	+2	Bryce Hopkins makes two point layup	34-43
16:33		Gaels 30 second timeout
16:33		TV timeout
16:12	+3	Toby Harris makes three point jump shot (Lamin Sabally assists)	37-43
15:53		Bryce Hopkins turnover (lost ball) (CJ Anthony steals)
15:49	+2	CJ Anthony makes two point layup	39-43
15:36	+3	Bryce Hopkins makes three point jump shot	39-46
15:17	+2	CJ Anthony makes two point jump shot	41-46
15:06		Bryce Hopkins misses three point jump shot
15:04		Lamin Sabally defensive rebound
14:58		Lamin Sabally turnover (Bryce Hopkins steals)
14:49	+2	Ian Jackson makes two point layup	41-48
14:24	+3	CJ Anthony makes three point jump shot	44-48
14:04	+3	Oziyah Sellers makes three point jump shot	44-51
13:34		Toby Harris misses two point layup
13:32		Bryce Hopkins defensive rebound
13:26	+2	Bryce Hopkins makes two point layup	44-53
13:11		Zuby Ejiofor blocks Lamin Sabally's two point layup
13:09		Ian Jackson defensive rebound
13:06		Ian Jackson offensive foul
13:06		Ian Jackson turnover (offensive foul)
13:06		TV timeout
12:54		CJ Anthony misses two point layup
12:52		Oziyah Sellers defensive rebound
12:42		Zuby Ejiofor misses two point layup
12:40		Bryce Hopkins offensive rebound
12:37	+2	Bryce Hopkins makes two point layup	44-55
12:17		Zuby Ejiofor blocks Kosy Akametu's two point layup
12:15		Gaels offensive rebound
12:14		Toby Harris misses two point jump shot
12:12		Oziyah Sellers defensive rebound
12:04		Lefteris Liotopoulos misses three point jump shot
12:02		Keshawn Williams defensive rebound
11:43		Zuby Ejiofor blocks Alliou Fall's two point layup
11:41		Zuby Ejiofor defensive rebound
11:35	+3	Oziyah Sellers makes three point jump shot (Bryce Hopkins assists)	44-58
11:20		TV timeout
10:59	+2	Kosy Akametu makes two point layup	46-58
10:59		Lefteris Liotopoulos shooting foul (Kosy Akametu draws the foul)
10:59		Kosy Akametu misses regular free throw 1 of 1
10:59		Zuby Ejiofor defensive rebound
10:33	+2	Zuby Ejiofor makes two point dunk (Dillon Mitchell assists)	46-60
10:21		Joson Sanon personal foul
9:58		CJ Anthony misses two point jump shot
9:56		Alliou Fall offensive rebound
9:56		Alliou Fall misses two point layup
9:55		Gaels offensive rebound
9:55		Oziyah Sellers personal foul
9:46		Lamin Sabally turnover (bad pass)
9:32		Zuby Ejiofor offensive foul
9:32		Zuby Ejiofor turnover (offensive foul)
9:17		Joson Sanon blocks CJ Anthony's two point layup
9:15		Gaels offensive rebound
9:15		Toby Harris turnover (lost ball)
9:00		Toby Harris shooting foul (Joson Sanon draws the foul)
9:00		Joson Sanon misses regular free throw 1 of 2
9:00	+1	Joson Sanon makes regular free throw 2 of 2	46-61
8:48		Toby Harris misses two point layup
8:46		Zuby Ejiofor defensive rebound
8:38		Toby Harris personal foul (Joson Sanon draws the foul)
8:37	+2	Oziyah Sellers makes two point jump shot (Dylan Darling assists)	46-63
8:16		Zuby Ejiofor blocks Kosy Akametu's two point layup
8:14		Dillon Mitchell defensive rebound
8:10	+3	Oziyah Sellers makes three point jump shot (Dillon Mitchell assists)	46-66
7:52	+2	CJ Anthony makes two point layup	48-66
7:50		Gaels 30 second timeout
7:50		TV timeout
7:40	+2	Dillon Mitchell makes two point layup	48-68
7:40		Kosy Akametu shooting foul (Dillon Mitchell draws the foul)
7:40	+1	Dillon Mitchell makes regular free throw 1 of 1	48-69
7:38		Joson Sanon personal foul (Kosy Akametu draws the foul)
7:38	+1	Kosy Akametu makes regular free throw 1 of 2	49-69
7:38	+1	Kosy Akametu makes regular free throw 2 of 2	50-69
7:29		Khalil Badru personal foul (Oziyah Sellers draws the foul)
7:24	+2	Oziyah Sellers makes two point layup (Ruben Prey assists)	50-71
7:08	+2	Denver Anglin makes two point layup	52-71
6:50		Lamin Sabally shooting foul (Ruben Prey draws the foul)
6:50	+1	Ruben Prey makes regular free throw 1 of 2	52-72
6:50	+1	Ruben Prey makes regular free throw 2 of 2	52-73
6:29	+2	Kosy Akametu makes two point layup (Denver Anglin assists)	54-73
6:11		Oziyah Sellers misses three point jump shot
6:09		CJ Anthony defensive rebound
6:00	+2	CJ Anthony makes two point jump shot	56-73
5:38		Oziyah Sellers turnover (bad pass)
5:28		Denver Anglin turnover (bad pass) (Ian Jackson steals)
5:23	+2	Lefteris Liotopoulos makes two point layup (Ian Jackson assists)	56-75
5:12		Kosy Akametu misses three point jump shot
5:10		Joson Sanon defensive rebound
5:03		Ian Jackson misses three point jump shot
5:01		Dillon Mitchell offensive rebound
4:59	+2	Dillon Mitchell makes two point layup	56-77
4:55		Gaels 60 second timeout
4:41		Denver Anglin misses three point jump shot
4:39		Lamin Sabally offensive rebound
4:35	+2	Lamin Sabally makes two point layup	58-77
4:24		Ian Jackson turnover (Lamin Sabally steals)
4:08		Denver Anglin turnover (Lefteris Liotopoulos steals)
4:05		CJ Anthony personal foul (Lefteris Liotopoulos draws the foul)
4:05	+1	Lefteris Liotopoulos makes regular free throw 1 of 2	58-78
4:05	+1	Lefteris Liotopoulos makes regular free throw 2 of 2	58-79
3:55		CJ Anthony misses three point jump shot
3:53		Lefteris Liotopoulos defensive rebound
3:48		Kelvin Odih turnover (lost ball)
3:48		TV timeout
3:33		Toby Harris misses two point layup
3:31		Toby Harris offensive rebound
3:27	+2	Toby Harris makes two point layup	60-79
3:09		Ian Jackson misses three point jump shot
3:07		Ian Jackson offensive rebound
3:05	+2	Dillon Mitchell makes two point dunk (Ian Jackson assists)	60-81
2:37		CJ Anthony misses two point jump shot
2:35		Dillon Mitchell defensive rebound
2:31		Denver Anglin shooting foul (Ian Jackson draws the foul)
2:31	+1	Ian Jackson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	60-82
2:31	+1	Ian Jackson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	60-83
2:13		Sadiku Ibine Ayo shooting foul (Denver Anglin draws the foul)
2:13	+1	Denver Anglin makes regular free throw 1 of 2	61-83
2:13	+1	Denver Anglin makes regular free throw 2 of 2	62-83
2:05	+3	Ian Jackson makes three point jump shot (Dillon Mitchell assists)	62-86
1:49		Kelvin Odih blocks Toby Harris's two point layup
1:47		Toby Harris offensive rebound
1:41	+2	Toby Harris makes two point layup	64-86
1:36	+2	Ian Jackson makes two point layup	64-88
1:36		Alliou Fall shooting foul (Ian Jackson draws the foul)
1:36	+1	Ian Jackson makes regular free throw 1 of 1	64-89
1:20		Khalil Badru misses two point layup
1:18		Dylan Darling defensive rebound
1:13		Dillon Mitchell misses two point layup
1:11		Toby Harris defensive rebound
0:59		Matt Reed misses three point jump shot
0:57		Dillon Mitchell defensive rebound
0:51		Red Storm 30 second timeout
0:33	+2	Handje Tamba makes two point hook shot	64-91
0:21		Khalil Badru turnover (bad pass) (Kelvin Odih steals)
0:00		End of period

Khalil Badru turnover (bad pass) (Kelvin Odih steals)