St. John's sends a message in New York exhibition
The Red Storm left Madison Square Garden with more than a preseason tally on Sunday afternoon — they left with momentum.
In an 87-74 exhibition win over No. 7 Texas, St. John's showcased a physical interior presence and balanced scoring that overwhelmed a highly regarded Longhorns roster. Forward Keyshawn Hall led the way with a game-high 24 points, while Tounde Yessoufou added 23. The pair combined for the bulk of St. John's offence and repeatedly attacked the paint, forcing Texas into difficult defensive decisions.
“We wanted to come out and set a standard and be dominant in our home court,” said Hall.
The performance arrived as the Red Storm wrapped preseason play and prepared to open the regular season on Nov. 2. For a program that carries the name of this province's capital into national arenas, the win offered both validation and a preview of how the team might handle higher-stakes games.
How the game was won
St. John's turned defensive pressure into offence, converting turnovers into points and controlling the glass at crucial moments. The ball movement was efficient — the team registered 19 assists on 34 made field goals, with the point guard orchestrating the offence while the frontcourt finished plays.
- Keyshawn Hall: 24 points on 8-for-13 shooting.
- Tounde Yessoufou: 23 points.
- Quinn Ellis: steady playmaking, part of a 19-assist team effort.
Texas opened the game by taking the first possession, but St. John's responded by asserting control and never trailing again. The Longhorns, who entered the afternoon ranked seventh nationally, featured several high-profile offseason additions; still, they struggled to contain St. John's in the paint and to limit second-chance opportunities.
Box score highlights
| Player | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Keyshawn Hall | St. John's | 24 |
| Tounde Yessoufou | St. John's | 23 |
| Isaiah Johnson | Texas | 18 |
Local perspective and implications
For St. John's residents who follow the Red Storm from afar, the win will resonate beyond the box score. College basketball is a recurring thread in the city's sports conversation; a statement performance on the national stage prompts renewed discussion about recruiting, scheduling and the program's profile. Victories like this can lift alumni and local fans, who identify strongly with teams that carry the city's name into landmark venues.
Head coach Rick Pitino, who cautioned earlier in the week that his roster needed time to come together after a tense outing against Rutgers, found reasons for optimism following the victory. He had emphasised improvement and effort in practices leading into this matchup, and the players responded by executing in ways that addressed those concerns.
The exhibition nature of the contest tempers immediate expectations — preseason games are as much about growth and evaluation as they are about results — but the Red Storm's combination of interior strength and passing balance supplied tangible evidence that this group can compete against nationally ranked opponents.
Up next, St. John's will turn its full attention to the regular season opener. The lessons from Madison Square Garden — finishing at the rim, protecting the ball and converting on offensive rebounds — are likely to shape practice plans in the days remaining before the schedule resumes. If Sunday's performance is any indication, the team has the tools to make noise and keep the name St. John's in the national conversation.
For a province that watches and cheers from a distance, the win is a small but welcome reminder of the reach and resilience tied to this city's sporting identity.
