Xavier led by as many as 16 in the second half before St. John's stormed back to win it in overtime Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

Riding the program's best start in 39 years, No. 20 St. John's regained sole possession of first place in the Big East by rallying past Xavier 79-71 in overtime.

Zuby Ejiofor is second on the team in scoring average at 14.6 points and first in rebounds (8.2) and blocked shots (1.9).

The Johnnies are among the nation’s best in shutting down opposing offenses — and it’s helped them get out to their best start in 35 years

Xavier is out to rebound from a disappointing road loss in Big East play when they host No. 19 UConn on Saturday night in Cincinnati. Xavier (12-8, 4-5 Big East)

Xavier lost Dailyn Swain to an ankle sprain while the sophomore was having one of his best games (career-high 16 points) vs. St. John's. Swain's status is up in the air Saturday, so it falls on Jerome Hunter to turn his season around.

St. John's guard Aaron Scott yells during Wednesday's game against Xavier in New York. St. John's head coach Rick Pitino yells on the court during the first half of Wednesday's game against Xavier in New York.

As the conference schedule wraps around, the element of surprise St. John's had early in the season may have lessened a bit.

The Red Storm overcame a 16-point deficit to earn their their sixth straight win and 12th win in the last 13 games.

St. John's is 7-0 in 2025, making this the program's first unbeaten January in 40 years dating to its last Final Four season in 1985.

That wide first half margin created enough distance for St. John’s to clinch the game, even as their offensive well dried up for most of the second half. The Johnnies came out o

Eight players scored for the Red Storm, on their longest run of consecutive wins in Big East play since 2000. First-place St. John’s (18-3, 9-1) is off to its best start since opening the 1985-86 season 20-2 during the program’s heyday under Hall of Fame coach Lou Carnesecca.