St. John’s Red Storm Dominate Northern Iowa Panthers In 1st Round Of NCAA Tournament
Forget the noise. Forget the questionable seeding. And definitely forget the idea that a cross-country flight to San Diego was going to slow down Rick Pitino’s squad.
When St. John’s stepped onto the hardwood at Viejas Arena on Friday night, they had one crystal-clear mission: remind the NCAA Tournament selection committee exactly who they are. The fifth-seeded Red Storm didn’t just beat the 12th-seeded Northern Iowa Panthers; they completely dismantled them in a wire-to-wire 79-53 beatdown that felt over before some fans even found their seats.
If you tuned in late, you missed the knockout blow. It took all of three minutes for St. John’s to establish absolute dominance, and it served as a terrifying warning shot to the rest of the East Region.
A Start Hotter Than the San Diego Sun
There is a golden rule in March Madness: do not let a double-digit underdog hang around and build confidence. St. John’s apparently wrote that rule in permanent marker on their locker room whiteboard.
Right from the opening tip, the Red Storm operated like a well-oiled machine on a mission. They sprinted out to a 13-0 lead in just over three minutes. By the time Northern Iowa Head Coach Ben Jacobson burned through three of his four timeouts, the Johnnies were already looking for hotel recommendations for the second weekend. It was an absolute clinic in early-game execution.
Northern Iowa came into this matchup boasting the nation’s stingiest scoring defense. The Panthers prefer a methodical, grind-it-out pace that forces opponents into mistakes. Well, someone forgot to tell St. John’s. The Red Storm cracked that elite defense like a cheap safe, scoring 47 points in the first half alone. They drained seven three-pointers before the break, essentially daring the Panthers to keep pace. Spoiler alert: they couldn’t.
Zuby Ejiofor and the St. John’s Frontcourt Dominate
You cannot talk about this opening-round masterpiece without shining a massive spotlight on Zuby Ejiofor. The big man was an absolute menace around the rim, racking up 14 points, pulling down 11 rebounds, and swatting away 4 shots. Ejiofor played with the kind of raw, unapologetic emotion that makes college basketball so incredibly compelling in March. Every rebound felt personal; every block was a statement.
But he wasn’t carrying the load alone. Bryce Hopkins added a smooth 13 points and 6 boards, while Oziyah Sellers caught fire from the perimeter, splashing three triples on his way to 11 points. Even Ruben Prey got in on the action off the bench, proving that St. John’s has the depth to survive the grueling gauntlet of the NCAA Tournament.
When Northern Iowa tried to claw back in the second half, momentarily trimming the massive deficit to 13 points, the Red Storm barely blinked. They responded with a swift 11-4 run that slammed the door shut, locked it, and threw the key into the Pacific Ocean.
Rick Pitino Has St. John’s Dreaming Of the Sweet Sixteen
St. John’s basketball is just better for the sport when it is playing at this level. Pitino has completely revitalized this program, taking a team that ended a 25-year tournament victory drought last season and turning them into a legitimate national title contender.
Winning 20 of their last 21 games is no fluke. This roster plays with a ferocious edge, born from the grueling battles of the Big East Tournament and polished by a coaching staff that knows exactly what it takes to win in March. They are fast, they are physical, and they are incredibly fun to watch.
Now, St. John’s turns its attention to Sunday, where a matchup against either fourth-seeded Kansas or upstart Cal Baptist awaits. A victory there would send the Johnnies to their first Sweet Sixteen of the 21st century. If Friday night was any indication, this team isn’t just happy to be here. St. John’s is here to kick down the door and crash the party.
