Zuby Ejiofor totaled career highs of 28 points and 13 rebounds as St. John’s dominated the second half in an 88-71 victory over Kansas State in the Big 12/Big East Battle Saturday in New York.
After a pregame ceremony to honor late Hall of Fame coach Lou Carnesecca, the Red Storm (7-2) earned their second win over a power conference opponent. Ejiofor helped the hosts shoot 52.8 percent in the second hald and outscore Kansas State 53-32 over the final 20 minutes.
Ejiofor finished 11-for-17 shooting and posted his third double-double this season. In the second half, the junior forward made 6 of his 8 shots, scoring 17 points and grabbing seven rebounds.
Kadary Richmond added 13 points and RJ Luis Jr contributed 11 as the duo combined for 14 rebounds. Simeon Wilcher also chipped in 11 points as St. John’s shot 42.7 percent overall.
Brendan Hausen scored 21 of his career-high 27 points in the first half as Kansas State (6-3) dropped its second game against a power conference opponent. David N’Guessan added 15 and Coleman Hawkins contributed 11 but Dug McDaniel (nine points) was just 3-of-14 shooting. The Wildcats shot 31.3 percent after halftime and 35.2 percent overall.
The Wildcats missed 11 straight shots and yielded a 12-1 run before Hausen’s 3 gave them a 20-19 lead with 9:04 remaining. Hausen’s basket started a 13-2 run that pushed Kansas State’s lead to 31-21 on a N’Guessan dunk with 5:36 left.
Hausen surpassed 20 points with a 3-pointer to put Kansas State up 37-33 with 1:59 left. The Wildcats led 39-35 at the break.
St. John’s started the second half on an 18-5 run and built a 53-44 lead on a 3 by Scott with 15:32 remaining. Ejiofor converted a layup and a putback in a span of 43 seconds for a 59-50 lead with 11:55 to play. Ruben Prey sank a corner 3-pointer 54 seconds later.
Ejiofor hit a wide-open 3 with 9:50 left for a 65-51 lead, then converted a putback for a 70-53 edge a minute later. After the Red Storm went cold, dunks by Deivon Smith and Richmond made it 83-67 with just over two minutes left and iced the win.
–Field Level Media
