It’s clear that Ruben Prey really enjoys playing against Seton Hall.
The sophomore delivered again against the Pirates for the second consecutive season.
On a night in which the Red Storm earned at least a share of the Big East regular season championship with its 72-65-win, Prey played an instrumental role as superstar Zuby Ejiofor battled foul trouble.
His eight-point, three-rebound, and block performance earned him the team’s ‘Big Bells Award’ for the night.
“When Zuby was out resting, Ruben did a phenomenal job,” Rick Pitino said tongue-in-cheek about his backup’s showing.
Prey kept the No. 18 Johnnies afloat in the first half with seven points, needing to play the final 4:55 after Ejiofor got his second foul. In the second half, although he didn’t see as much time on the floor, he made the hustle plays when needed.
His offensive rebound with 11:58 remaining led to a layup by Dylan Darling that extended the St. John’s lead to three, 48-45, and an assist with 11:04 left made the Red Storm advantage five, 50-45.
“He was absolutely perfect,” Ejiofor said of Prey’s performance. “Ruben stepped up and hit some big-time shots in the post and played well as well defensively and it’s something we are definitely going to need from him for the rest of the season.”
Prey has a liking to playing Seton Hall.
In the first matchup this season he went for six points, four rebounds, and three steals. As a freshman, he hit a momentum shifting 3-pointer in the Red Storm’s Big East regular season clincher against the Pirates and had four rebounds, two assists, and five blocks in his first ever game against Seton Hall.
The good news for Ruben Prey is that there could be a third meeting between the two teams in the Big East Tournament if both St. John’s and Seton Hall were to win its quarterfinal matchups.