After the half-time, RJ Louis Jr., except two of its 29 points, and number 6, St. John made 14 straight shots from the field in the second half and defeated Crete 82-66 on Saturday night for the honor of their first Big East Tournament in 25 years.
Zobi Ejefor added 20 points and Kadri Richmond had 12 points and 12 reabounds for the top seeded Red Storm (30-4), which roared in the Soldst Medicine Square Garden for the third time in the date of the program in front of a hometown mob.
He received the automatic bid of the conference at the NCAA tournament for his first trip since 2019, which, 72 -year -old Hall of Famil, Rick Patino, made the first coach to take six schools in big dances. Other were Boston University, Providance, Kentucky, Louis Will and Iona.
“For all of St. John’s fans, it’s for you!” Patino announced during a post game interview in court, and stopped falling from his lips to remove the confusion. “St. John is the New York team!”
In his second season in Patino, St. Johns, he also became the first coach to win the Big East tournament in two schools. He has won the league three times in his last four seasons, after leading Louis Will at the Championship in 2009, 2012 and 2013.
“It has been a remarkable year,” Crighton coach Greg McDermut said about the Red Storm. Our league dominated and saved his best for the conference tournament. ” “They wear you inside you over time. … We really lost to a good basketball team. I think they will represent the Big East next week in a positive way.”
Ryan Kalk Burner scored 15 runs for Second Seed Curton (24-10), which fell 0-5 in the Big East Championship Games after joining the conference in the 2013-14 season.
It was the fourth Big East Tournament title for Johniz, which made the championship game for the first time after winning the 2000 trophy under Mike Raios. In the last two years, the Hall of Fame coach Lou Carnisika came under the 1980s, who was ashamed of his 100th birthday in five weeks.
“We had three stages that we started,” Patino said after the win. Regarding the Big East’s regular season, the crown of the conference tournament and eventually winning the National Championship. The Red Storm has achieved the first two stages.
“I am very excited. I can’t be blessed with this opportunity,” said Louis. “We will continue.”
The Associated Press cooperated in this report.
