In an electrifying, nail-biting finish, Villanova shattered St. John’s 10-game win streak and dashed the Red Storm’s dreams of Big East dominance! Rick Pitino’s squad had been riding high, fresh off a road victory over two-time reigning national champion UConn and a Big East streak that hadn’t been seen since the 1985 Final Four run. But Villanova, with their veteran grit, weren’t fazed one bit.
Trailing 70-66 with under a minute to go, St. John’s staged a fiery 5-0 run, capped by a clutch Simeon Wilcher three-pointer to take the lead. A sizzling 11 triples on the night made it look like they were primed for another victory. But the Wildcats, fighting for a spot in the tournament, weren’t done. After a frantic sequence, Tyler Perkins, the sophomore sharpshooter, dropped his fourth three of the game to give Villanova a 73-71 lead, leaving St. John’s with just seconds to respond.
As the buzzer approached, Villanova’s defense stood tall, forcing Wilcher into a tough, off-balance jumper that missed at the horn. Boom! It was game over, and Villanova had just handed St. John’s its first loss since December 31.
The stakes couldn’t be higher now. St. John’s was gunning for a lock on the Big East regular-season title, but now Madison Square Garden will host a colossal showdown for the conference crown, with Creighton arriving on Sunday. It’s a do-or-die game for the Red Storm, as a loss could give Creighton the tiebreaker advantage.
Meanwhile, Villanova’s stunning win breathed fresh life into their NCAA tournament hopes, marking their first Q1 win of the season. With a dynamic duo in Wooga Poplar (20.3 PPG) and Eric Dixon (23.8 PPG), the Wildcats now have a shot at a late-season surge. The Big East Tournament in Madison Square Garden just got a whole lot more exciting!
This is basketball at its most explosive—a game-changer that has shaken up the Big East race and sent shockwaves through March Madness talk!
