Marquette Edges Out St. John’s in a Heart-Stopping Battle at Madison Square Garden
The hometown St. John’s Men’s Basketball team squared off against the tough #17 Marquette on a chilly January afternoon at the iconic Madison Square Garden in the heart of New York City. A heated clash on the court was anticipated by St. John’s fans who crowded the arena, creating a sea of Red and White in the stands. With seven straight wins under their belt and an outstanding 8-1 home record, the Red Storm was eager to show off their skills against Marquette, a tough Big East rival. A victory would be huge for Coach Rick Pitino and would add a lot to the story of the team’s season.
Joel Soriano of St. John’s at the line for 2 shots. Photo courtesy of ATH Images
The game roared to life with St. John’s coming out hot, led by a stellar first-half performance from RJ Luis Jr, who tallied an impressive 9 points to ignite the crowd. As the halftime buzzer sounded, the Johnnies held a 34-28 lead, dominating the second-chance points and signaling their intent to secure a major victory. The Garden was alive with anticipation as the home team appeared to be on a clear path to triumph.
Johnnies Head Coach Rick Pitino with instructions for his squad. Photo courtesy of ATH Images
However, as the second half developed, the plot took an unexpected turn. Even though St. John had the early upper hand, Marquette rallied well and with just six minutes left, had taken a commanding 13-point lead. The Red Storm was faced with an overwhelming task, but they didn’t crumble under the pressure—rather, they rose to the situation with tenacity and drive. They produced an incredible comeback by tightening up their defense and forcing vital mistakes.
As the clock wound down, the tension in the arena was on the edges of their seats. With the score showing a narrow gap, the ball found its way into the hands of Daniss Jenkins, with a thrilling opportunity to clinch the victory. His poised attempt at a game-winning shot seemed destined to send the crowd into a frenzy, but fate had a different plan as the ball rimmed out, leaving the audience in stunned silence.
RJ Luis Jr. Led all scorers with 20 points. Photo courtesy of ATH Images