St. John’s matchup against the Xavier Musketeers saw the culmination of a 38 year career within the NCAA, across seven different schools and two national championship victories. Rick Pitino notched his 900th win as a college basketball coach against his son Richard Pitino in dramatic fashion.
With the major milestone looming, the fifth Pitino Bowl became the most anticipated father/son duel since “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.” Rick got the best of Richard a year ago by a score of 85-71, but this year’s installment was a much tougher matchup for the Johnnies.
To the shock of both Pitinos, defense was an afterthought in this contest and an unlikely breakout performance carried the Red Storm’s offensive output. The former Tarheel Ian Jackson (16 pts, 3-5 3PT) was responsible for nearly half of St. John’s first half points with his 16.
For a three minute stretch, “Captain Jack” scored 10 straight and singlehandedly built a 20-11 lead for the Johnnies. Jackson showed flashes of what his role was supposed to be this season, he settled into his point guard duties against Xavier and scored at all three levels, hitting two three-pointers in the first half while attacking the paint as well.
Just as all seemed well for St. John’s, an improbable and-one three ball from Malik Messina-Moore (18 pts, 5 asts, 4-8 3PT) shifted the tide back to the Musketeers. The Big East’s best three point shooting team exposed the Red Storm’s lack of capable perimeter defense, nailing 7-14 shots from beyond the arc in the first half and stealing the lead from St. John’s.
Messina-Moore, stretch-five Tre Carroll (31 pts, 12-22 FG) and New Mexico transfer Jovan Millicevic (14 pts, 5-8 FG) all scored over double-digits in the first half for Xavier, fueling their 12 point 49-37 lead at halftime.
The Musketeers won the rebounding battle 22-18, while forcing Bryce Hopkins (18 pts, 8 rebs, 7-17 FG) and Zuby Ejiofor (13 pts, 11 rebs, 4-11 FG) to shoot a combined 4-15 in the first half, both trends that St. John’s needed to reverse if they wanted to pull off another second half comeback.
Five minutes into the second half, St. John’s most consistent player Dillon Mitchell (17 pts, 7 rebs, 6 asts) added some much needed help on the offensive end by scoring two straight baskets and hitting a pair of free throws, bringing the Johnnies within eight at 55-47.
St. John’s captain Ejiofor scored five straight points of his own, continuing an 11-1 scoring run for the Johnnies that brought them within four points of Xavier’s 56-52 advantage.
Even after only trailing by a single point, at 56-55, the Musketeers did not go away. A quick seven point swing, started by a Carroll three pointer, gave Xavier another eight point lead with slightly under 10 minutes remaining.
But St. John’s once again facilitated their identity as a second half team, a 10-2 scoring run gave the Johnnies their first lead of the second half at 69-67.
Where the Red Storm lacks the two-way consistency of last year’s Big East champions, they make up for their disadvantages in heart and fight, coming back from at least 15 points in their second consecutive game.
But the Johnnies’ road to victory wouldn’t be easy, they would only hold a miniscule one possession lead until the two minute mark where Oziyah Sellers’ free throws pushed the gap to 79-74.
This lead was then quickly erased, Messina-Moore and Carroll combined for a quick five-points that tied the contest with only one minute remaining.
Even after Ejiofor earned his fifth and final foul, St. John’s rallied without their captain on the back of Dylan Darling (11 pts, 3 asts, 3-5 3PT) who nailed a clutch three point shot that gave them a late 84-82 lead. The triple was Darling’s 11th point of the second half, making him the quiet hero of the Pitino Bowl.
The game ended in free throws, which the Johnnies converted on, sealing the game at an 88-83 final score.
The victory in Cincinnati is something that the Hall of Fame coach will never forget, but the celebration for such a milestone may be short-lived. With a now six game win streak, the pressure is back on St. John’s with hopes and anticipation of a repeat as Big East regular season champions looming.
The Red Storm will return to Madison Square Garden on Jan. 28 to face the Butler Bulldogs for the second time this season, hoping to continue their in-conference resurgence.
