St. John’s Loses Big Blowout to UConn, Ending Long Winning Streak

UConn’s basketball team dominated St. John’s, winning 72-40 and stopping the Red Storm’s 13‑game run of victories. Tarris Reed Jr. led the effort with a double‑double, scoring 20 points and grabbing 11 rebounds while blocking six shots. The Huskies’ defense was brutal; St. John’s made only 20% of their shots, missing a dozen in the first half and none in the last 24 attempts. The loss marks the worst defeat St. John’s has faced in three years under coach Rick Pitino, and it is the lowest score the team has posted since 2013. UConn’s starters outscored St. John’s by a wide margin, 61‑28 overall and 42‑12 inside the paint.Key contributors for UConn included Alex Karaban, who added 14 points and five rebounds, and Solo Ball, who had 11 points with four assists. St. John’s only managed to score 10 of its 22 points in the first half, and the team finished with a shooting percentage of just 11 of 56. Despite a brief surge early in the second half, the Red Storm could not recover from a 23‑point deficit that left them without any field goals for the final 17 minutes. The game shifted the Big East standings, putting UConn back in first place after a previous loss to St. John’s earlier in the season at Madison Square Garden. St. John’s will next face Villanova, while UConn prepares to host Seton Hall on Saturday night.