NEW YORK, NY — Kadary Richmond delivered a clutch performance, scoring a season-high 24 points, including the decisive jumper with just three seconds left, to lift No. 15 St. John’s over Providence, 68-66, on Saturday. The Red Storm nearly squandered a 19-point lead in the final nine minutes but managed to hang on for the win.
RJ Luis Jr. chipped in with 19 points and eight rebounds for St. John’s (19-3, 10-1 Big East), which is off to its best start in nearly four decades. The team has now won eight consecutive games and 14 of their last 15, taking sole possession of first place in the Big East after No. 9 Marquette fell to No. 25 UConn later that night.
Providence (11-11, 5-6) mounted a spirited comeback at Madison Square Garden, led by Jabri Abdur-Rahim’s season-best 27 points off the bench. Abdur-Rahim hit two of his eight 3-pointers during the late rally, and Bensley Joseph tied the game with a clutch 3-pointer with 33 seconds remaining. Joseph, despite struggling offensively with just one basket, contributed significantly with 12 rebounds and seven assists.
With the game knotted at 66, Richmond used a screen from Zuby Ejiofor to create space against Jayden Pierre and calmly sank a pull-up jumper from the free-throw line. On the final possession, Joseph’s desperation shot from near half-court bounced off the mark as time expired.
Richmond was highly efficient, shooting 10-for-14 from the field while adding eight rebounds and eight assists. Ejiofor contributed 13 points for the Red Storm, who shot 38% from the floor overall.
Game Highlights & Takeaways:
- Providence: The Friars struggled with ball security, committing 12 turnovers in the first half and finishing with 20 overall, far above their season average of 12 per game.
- St. John’s: Point guard Deivon Smith showed signs of rust after missing three of the last four games due to a right shoulder injury. Smith shot just 1-for-10 from the field, finishing with three points and six assists in 28 minutes off the bench.
Turning Point:
With just over two minutes remaining, Corey Floyd Jr. and Abdur-Rahim drained back-to-back 3-pointers, slicing St. John’s lead to 62-61. But despite Providence’s late surge, Richmond’s composure in the final seconds secured the Red Storm’s victory.
Up Next:
Providence plays Creighton on Wednesday. St. John’s takes on Marquette on Tuesday night at MSG before traveling on to UConn on Friday.
