#17 Red Storm Runs Too Much For Creighton Men

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- An 8-0 run to start the game and an 8-0 run to end the first half by No. 17 St. John's was too much for Creighton to overcome on Saturday afternoon at Madison Square Garden as the host Red Storm took a 81-52 decision in a rematch of last year's BIG EAST Tournament final also played inside the World's Most Famous Arena.

St. John's won its 13th straight game to improve to 22-5 and maintain its lead in the BIG EAST standings at 15-1. Creighton, seeking its second Top 25 road win of the week after a 91-84 win at No. 5 UConn on Wednesday, fell to 14-14 on the year and is now 8-9 in BIG EAST play.

St. John's scored on six of its initial seven possessions and took a 13-2 lead just three minutes into the game, a stretch that started with two free throws after an offensive rebounds and three consecutive Red Storm baskets in transition. Josh Dix broke the ice with CU down 8-0. CU fell behind by as much as 12 points on two occasions (16-4 and 22-10) but battled back behind three three-pointers from Fedor Zugic and an Owen Freeman lay-up to draw within 28-23. The Red Storm would regroup to finish the first half on an 8-0 run and took a 42-27 lead into the intermission.

Zugic led CU with nine points in the first half but missed the final 5:34 after picking up two personal fouls in a 33-second span midway through the half.  Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year Zuby Ejiofor had 13 points and a pair of blocked shots before the break, while Dillon Mitchell added six rebounds to contribute to SJU's 21-13 rebounding edge.

CU scored the first five points of the second half to quickly close within 10 points twice, including 44-34, before a drought without a field goal lasting 8:45 that saw the Johnnies extend the lead to 69-38.

Zugic led CU with nine points and Green snared seven rebounds to pace the Bluejays. Graves led CU with five assists.

Dylan Darling owned game-high scoring honors with 17 points, while Bryce Hopkins and Ejiofor each had 15. Mitchell flirted with a triple-double and finished with 10 rebounds, seven assists and six points.

Creighton plays its final two home games of the season this week, starting Wednesday at 8 p.m. when it welcomes DePaul to CHI Health Center Omaha.