St. John's lays down a marker in final dress rehearsal
St. John's sent a clear message on Sunday at Madison Square Garden, burning the visitors from Texas in a 87-74 exhibition victory that served as the Red Storm's final tune-up before the regular season opener. The win, against a team ranked No. 7 in some preseason lists, was a far cry from the jittery showing the programme produced a week earlier.
The home side's charge was paced by forward Keyshawn Hall, who poured in 24 points on 8-for-13 shooting. Hall, along with Ian Jackson and Tounde Yessoufou, formed a trio that combined for 65 points on 23-for-41 from the field. The balance of scoring and the defensive energy made the difference for the Red Storm.
“I felt that we had to make a quantum leap from the Rutgers game. I was on them constantly about certain things and they made a quantum leap today.”
The words came from the St. John's coach in the days leading up to the matchup, urging patience and progress after an earlier quadruple‑overtime win that raised more questions than confidence. On Sunday, the team answered. The Red Storm turned 16 Texas turnovers into 20 points, sharing the ball to the tune of 19 assists on 34 made field goals. Point guard Quinn Ellis displayed poise running the offence, recording seven assists.
Bench depth and defensive bites
Freshman big man Theo Edema chipped in with a solid showing off the bench, hauling down seven rebounds and helping maintain intensity inside. While exhibitions don't count in the standings, the performance offered a glimpse of the depth and defensive schemes the Red Storm hope to carry into the regular season opener against Monmouth on Nov. 2.
- Final score: St. John's 87, Texas 74
- Top St. John's scorer: Keyshawn Hall — 24 points (8‑for‑13)
- Team assists: 19 on 34 made field goals; Quinn Ellis — 7 assists
From the visitor side, Texas — a team that invested heavily in transfers over the offseason — still showed pieces that will cause teams trouble. Isaiah Johnson led the Longhorns with 18 points, going 8-of-11 from the free-throw line and adding four assists and two steals. Matas Vokietaitis contributed 14 points and four rebounds, while David Punch had 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
| Player | Team | Points | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keyshawn Hall | St. John's | 24 | 8‑for‑13 shooting |
| Ian Jackson & Tounde Yessoufou | St. John's | Part of combined 65 | 23‑for‑41 collective shooting |
| Isaiah Johnson | Texas | 18 | 8‑of‑11 free throws, 4 assists |
What it means for St. John's
For St. John's, the victory is both confidence builder and statement. Preseason rankings and exhibition results only tell part of the story, but beating a high‑profile opponent in a major arena like Madison Square Garden will buoy a fanbase eager for consistency. The Red Storm's ability to force turnovers, convert them into points and share the ball effectively addresses some of the concerns raised after the earlier, narrow escape in New Jersey.
Still, exhibitions are a prelude. The challenge now is to carry the same physicality, decision-making and bench contributions into games that count on the schedule. The regular season begins Nov. 2 at home against Monmouth, and the expectations around this St. John's group will be coloured by the performance in New York.
For now, Red Storm supporters can savour a victory that felt, for the moment, like a proper season-opening roar.
