St. John’s best season in 25 years keeps getting better.
Now, it has a trademark win to add to that gaudy record.
A return to the NCAA Tournament is looking more and more likely, especially after this gutty 70-64 victory over No. 11 Marquette at a thunderous Garden on Tuesday night.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The 12th-ranked Johnnies rode their tenacious defense and rebounding prowess to a ninth straight win and 15th in 16 games.
It was closer than it should’ve been – the result of St. John’s missing 14 free throws – but it was yet again the better team in crunch time, as it has been throughout this winning streak.
It outscored Marquette 13-7 over the final 4:10, taking the lead for good on two Zuby Ejiofor free throws.
When Aaron Scott slammed home a Kadary Richmond feed, the lead was seven with 1:38 left. Soon, chants of “We Want UConn,” were heard coming from the student section.
St. John’s (20-3, 11-1) was dominant on the glass, out-rebounding Marquette 50-28, and was plus-eight in the paint.
Richmond (18 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists), Ejiofor (13 points, 13 rebounds) and RJ Luis (17 points, 11 rebounds) all had double-doubles, and the Johnnies held Marquette to 29 percent shooting in the second half.
Kam Jones scored 15 points for Marquette in 25 foul-plagued minutes.