It was a homecoming for Sadiku Ibine Ayo as the St. John’s basketball team hosted Iona on Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.
Ibine Ayo, a three-year player, two-year captain, and four-time Big East champion for the Red Storm, was greeted with a pregame video tribute that encompassed all his accomplishments in Queens as well as a standing ovation when announced in the starting lineup for the Gaels.
He scored the first seven points for Iona in the game, including a 3-pointer on his first shot attempt, but it was not nearly enough as St. John’s showcased its potential behind a 104-65 victory.
Yet it wasn’t about the final score for Ibine Ayo, who finished with 11 points, two rebounds, and two assist, it was about the St. John’s crowd repaying him for all the times he saluted them.
“It was nice seeing what I did here was being appreciated,” Ibine Ayo said after the game of the fans’ reaction.
“I’m always the one telling my teammates to clap to the fans,” he continued. “Wherever I saw a St. John’s fan, I tried to interact with them try to tell them I appreciated what they were doing, so it’s basically what I think is that they’re trying to show me that they appreciated what [I] did over here at St. John’s.”
Ibine Ayo’s father was able to attend the game at The Garden, something that was very special for him.
Sadiku Ibine Ayo is averaging 7.0 points per game in his second stint with Iona and prior to the game Rick Pitino said he would attend some of his games after the two teams played each other.
While disappointed that Iona didn’t win against St. John’s, the veteran knows that his team still has all of its goals ahead of them this season, which includes winning the Metro Conference and getting back to the NCAA Tournament.
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