Zobe Ejiofor notched St. John’s’ rare triple-double in the rebound from UConn’s miss

Add another memorable moment to Zubi Ejiofor’s remarkable career in St. John’s.

After Wednesday’s ugly loss at Connecticut, he put it on himself to make sure the 15th-ranked Johnnie was ready to face Villanova.

He then achieved St John’s fifth hat-trick since 1985–86, leading the tournament. No. 15 Red Storm in 89-57 blowout to Villanova The park is completely sold out.

Ejiofor had 16 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and three blocks in St. John’s’ largest margin of victory over the Wildcats in school history.

“Coach (Rick Pitino) pulled me aside and told me about it, too. There was no way I could forget it,” Ejiofor said. “On the last possession, I was playing in the flow of the offense, spraying it. … It was a really special moment.”

When Ejiofor recorded his 10th and final assist for Joseon Sanon with 3:12 left in the game, the crowd erupted in “Zuuuuby” chants. Other St John’s players to have achieved a hat-trick in the past 40 years are Mark Jackson, David Cain, Metta World Peace – then known as Ron Artist – and Kadare Richmond last March.

Next up for St. John’s is Georgetown on Tuesday at MSG. It will be Ejiofor’s big day and it will be an emotional night.

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“I’m going to miss him terribly because I know I can count on him every day,” Pitino said. “We really need a Madison Square Garden crowd just to honor him, as well as the other players.”

Pitino was initially going to wear the white suit for the “white game” due to his disappointment with Wednesday’s lopsided loss at UConn.

He changed his mind after Friday’s media session, when it was said that not wearing the suit would show a lack of confidence in St. John’s return.

“Actually, Roger (Rubin of Newsday) changed my mind,” Pitino said. “He said: ‘Do you think the fans would lose confidence (if you weren’t wearing the suit)?’” Are you not confident now? I didn’t look at it that way, I said. I thought about it. So I said do you know what? I didn’t lose in it; Let me do that. “I think that was a major factor in the match.”

St. John’s is now 3-0 when Pitino dons the white suit.

Rookie goalkeeper Kelvin Audet (right leg soreness) remains out. … St. John’s’ 26 assists tie its most in a Big East game since 1999.