St. John's Edges Seton Hall 65-60 Behind Mitchell's Double-Double

St. John's University secured a crucial 65-60 win over Seton Hall at Madison Square Garden, with Dillon Mitchell leading the charge. The Red Storm's forward posted an impressive 17 points and 11 rebounds, outmuscling the Pirates in the paint. This performance was instrumental in St. John's victory, as they overcame a six-point halftime deficit to take down their opponents.

At the break, Seton Hall held a 38-32 advantage, thanks in large part to AJ Staton-McCray's 10 first-half points. However, St. John's regrouped and came out strong in the second half, outscoring the Pirates 33-22. Mitchell's dominance on the glass and in the paint was a key factor in this turnaround, as the Red Storm limited Seton Hall to just 22 second-half points. Bryce Hopkins and Zuby Ejiofor also made significant contributions, with 13 points and 9 points, respectively, to help propel St. John's to victory.

The CHD Scout's pre-game prediction had St. John's winning by 6.2 points, and although the final margin was slightly narrower at five points, the predicted winner was correct. This win was a Quad 2 victory for St. John's, which will undoubtedly boost their tournament resume. On the other hand, Seton Hall's loss, despite being a Quad 1 opportunity, will not significantly harm their chances, given their strong overall record.

Staton-McCray was the top performer for Seton Hall, finishing with 16 points and 5 rebounds. Stephon Payne also had a notable game, grabbing 15 rebounds to go along with his 13 points. However, it was not enough to overcome the balanced attack of St. John's, which saw three players score in double figures.

This win solidifies St. John's position as a tournament contender, with their 14-5 record and 23rd ranking in the net rankings. The Red Storm's ability to bounce back from a tough first half and secure a hard-fought victory matters in their pursuit of a postseason berth. As for Seton Hall, despite the loss, they remain in the mix with a 14-5 record, albeit with a slightly more challenging road ahead. The Pirates must regroup and refocus to stay on track for a tournament spot.

The implications of this result are clear: St. John's has strengthened its tournament resume with a Quad 2 win, while Seton Hall must rebound from this loss to maintain their position in the tournament conversation. With the victory, St. John's has taken a significant step forward in their pursuit of a postseason berth, and they want to build on this momentum in their upcoming games.