It’s not a trend anymore. It’s built into the culture of the team and it’s part of its fabric.
The St. John’s basketball team’s desire to win is unmatched and it was on display again on Tuesday against Georgetown, rallying from a 15-point deficit to win, 63-58.
Fresh off a comeback win over Villanova, the Johnnies came out flat and were missing its igniter, Deivon Smith, due to a sprained shoulder. They missed 13-of-15 shots to begin the game as Georgetown used a 17-1 run to take control of things and kept its advantage at double digits until halftime, leading by ten.
“They refused to lose the game,” Rick Pitino said. “Winning was more important than any individual achievement…nobody played well tonight.”
The Hoyas would throw the first jab of the second half before the Red Storm got off the canvas and threw a haymaker.
Aaron Scott drilled a 3-pointer to give St. John’s its first lead since 2-0, 44-43, in the process of a 19-2 run. The 12,757 that filled Madison Square Garden sounded closer to a capacity crowd and the Red Storm needed every bit of energy to get across the finish line.
“Winning just matters more than anything else,” Pitino continued.
St. John’s lead didn’t last after Georgetown scored the next five points to swing the game in its favor before St. John’s showed its winning attitude when they seized the momentum back with an 8-0 run and getting a lead it would not relinquish.
RJ Luis, who followed up his 30-point outing with 19 points against the Hoyas, scored four points in the run.
“We got every loose ball, we made every tough shot down the stretch.”
Yet the biggest shot of the win came from Simeon Wilcher, who had struggled throughout the evening. Wilcher’s 3-pointer with 2:07 left answered a Malik Mack triple that brought Georgetown within one, 56-55.
St. John’s (15-3, 6-1 Big East) had missed nine straight field goals before Wilcher’s shot and he was 1-for-7 from the floor, missing all three of his 3-pointers. It was similar to his clutch plays inside the final four minutes against Villanova that accounted for four massive points.
“A year ago, Sim Wilcher, if he’s not playing well and he would get distracted,” Pitino explained. “Tonight, he’s not scoring, he’s not getting distracted and [made] key plays.”
Kadary Richmond and Luis closed out the game with baskets inside the final minute when Georgetown (12-5, 3-3 Big East) cut its deficit to three.
St. John’s is now off to its best start in Big East play since the 1998-99 season and has its best record through 18 games since 1985-86.
The Red Storm will look to continue its winning ways on the road Saturday night (8:00 p.m. ET, FS1) against rival Seton Hall (6-10, 1-4 Big East).