NEW YORK, NY — Red, white and blue confetti filled the court of Madison Square Garden Saturday night as the players of St. John’s Men’s Basketball celebrated their second consecutive Big East Tournament Championship victory.
As fans remained on their feet and the familiar sounds of Frank Sinatra’s “Theme From New York, New York” echoed through the arena, the Red Storm soaked in a moment that capped off another dominant run through the conference tournament.
Championship confetti dropped down from Madison Square Garden in celebration for the back-to-back Big East Tournament champion: St. John’s Red Storm – Image Credit: St. John’s Men’s Basketball
St. John’s basketball legends Mark Jackson and Walter Berry, who played under the late great Lou Carnesecca in the 1980’s, were also in attendance.
In the championship matchup, St. John’s defeated the UConn Huskies, 72–52, jumping out to an early 10–0 lead and controlling the pace throughout the night. Zuby Ejiofor, winning the Dave Gavitt Award as the Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, led the way with 18 points, nine rebounds and seven blocks.
The victory marked another milestone for head coach Rick Pitino, who took over the program in 2023 and has quickly restored St. John’s to national prominence.
In a sold-out MSG with a crowd of 19,812 for round three of St. John’s vs. UConn, the Red Storm defeated the Huskies by a final score of 72-52 – Image Credit: St. John’s Men’s Basketball
The championship moment also carried historical significance for the university while continuing to honor the legendary coach in Carnesecca, whose teams helped define the Red Storm’s golden era in the 1980’s and whose legacy still looms large over the program.
“There’s so much history with St John’s, and we brought it all back in three years,” said the 73-year-old Pitino. “And for me personally, being a New Yorker and seeing the thrills of our fans and seeing the thrills of the team means a great deal to me to be a small part of this whole thing. “I’m really, really proud. I know Louie Carnesecca is looking down on us with great pride.”
St. John’s defense proved to be the difference, limiting UConn to under 34% shooting and forcing multiple turnovers during key stretches of the game. The Red Storm maintained a double-digit lead for most of the night and never allowed the Huskies to fully regain momentum.
After the championship win, Ian Jackson of the Bronx, NY spoke about the significance of celebrating the moment at Madison Square Garden, especially with his family in attendance.
“He said it feels great to win at home with these guys and having your family’s support always makes everything feel better,” said the sophomore guard.
Jackson was one of the several players who contributed to the team’s effort throughout the tournament.
Following the final buzzer, players and coaches climbed the ladder to cut down the nets as confetti continued to fall across The Garden floor.
St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino and senior forward Zuby Ejiofor cutting down the nets at Madison Square Garden Saturday night after defeating the UConn Huskies in the 2026 Big East Tournament Championship – Image Credit: Latino Sports
Surrounded by cheering fans, teammates and coaches embraced and posed for photos while celebrating the program’s second straight conference title and fifth-ever.
“I wanted to come to win a championship and that’s what I had as a goal ever since June,” said senior guard Oziyah Sellers. “So to be in this position and to win it feels great, it feels amazing, and we’re not done yet.”
For St. John’s, Saturday night’s Big East Tournament championship win over UConn not only secured an automatic spot into the NCAA Tournament, but also reinforced the program’s rebirth under Pitino.
Additionally, it marked the first-ever time for the Big East Conference where a school has successfully won back-to-back conference tournament titles.
Follow us on Social Media for updates and exclusive content
Instagram: @latinosportsoficial
Facebook: Latino Sports
Twitter: @latinosports
