St. John's Hands UConn Rare Loss at the Garden, Snapping Huskies’ 18-Game Win Streak
In a game that lived up to its billing, No. 22 St.
John's delivered a statement win under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden, handing No. 3 UConn its first conference loss in over a month with an 81-72 victory.
It was a game packed with momentum swings, big-time performances, and a late-game sequence that saw both teams leave points on the table-but it was the Red Storm who made just enough plays when it counted.
UConn came into the night riding an 18-game winning streak-the third-longest in program history-and looked poised to keep the train rolling, even after falling into their biggest second-half hole in weeks. But St. John's, relentless on both ends, had other plans.
Demary’s Dazzling Comeback Attempt Falls Just Short
Silas Demary Jr. was at the heart of UConn’s second-half surge. After a rough stretch that saw him commit seven turnovers in the first 30 minutes, the junior point guard flipped a switch. He went into attack mode, slicing through the defense for layups, finding teammates with crisp passes, and igniting the Huskies’ offense just when it seemed to be sputtering.
Demary’s highlight moment came midway through the half-an emphatic dunk over St. John’s forward Zuby Ejiofor that brought the Garden crowd to its feet and the Huskies within striking distance.
With 4:45 left, Demary’s driving layup cut the deficit to just one. The comeback was alive.
But the final minutes weren’t kind to UConn. Demary missed a crucial and-1 free throw with 1:17 remaining, then failed to convert the front end of a 1-and-1 with under a minute to go. A rushed three-point attempt on the following possession came up short-air ball short-and with it, the Huskies’ hopes of a comeback win began to fade.
Demary finished with 18 points, seven assists, and five rebounds-but the nine turnovers loomed large. Still, his second-half effort was the engine behind UConn’s rally.
St. John’s Closes the Door Late
St. John’s didn’t exactly ice the game at the line either, missing three of four free throws in a key stretch.
But when it mattered most, they came through. Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins calmly knocked down four straight from the stripe to seal the win and send the Garden into a frenzy.
Ejiofor was the game’s standout, putting together a monster night: 21 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. He was everywhere-finishing inside, kicking out to shooters, and anchoring the defense. Dillon Mitchell added 15 points, while Hopkins chipped in 14.
The Red Storm’s ability to control tempo and capitalize on UConn’s mistakes-especially in the second half-was the difference. Despite shooting just 42 percent from the field in the first half and struggling from deep (2-for-11), St.
John’s made their mark at the free-throw line, going 11-for-14 before the break. UConn, by comparison, took just six free throws in the first half, making four.
A First in a Long Time
This win marks the first time since the 1999-2000 season that St. John’s has beaten UConn three times in a row. It also gives the Red Storm a 5-4 edge in games where both teams are ranked-a testament to how far this program has come under its current leadership.
The game was tied 39-39 at halftime after six lead changes and four ties, and the energy inside the Garden reflected the stakes. This was only the second time in Big East history that two teams met in February with one or fewer conference losses each-the last time being back in 2009, when Jim Calhoun’s Huskies took down Rick Pitino’s Louisville squad.
Now, St. John’s is 18-5 overall and 11-1 in conference play, while UConn drops to 22-2 and 12-1.
The all-time series between these two storied programs now sits at 34-40 in favor of St. John’s, with a 30-35 edge in Big East matchups.
Garden Vibes
Madison Square Garden was electric from the opening tip, and the sellout crowd included some familiar New York faces-among them, longtime sports radio voice Mike Francesa and actor Steve Schirripa of The Sopranos fame. It was a classic New York hoops night, and the Red Storm gave their fans something to remember.
This wasn’t just a win-it was a statement. And for UConn, it’s a reminder that in the Big East, nothing comes easy.