St John's defeats Butler 70-84
St John's Edges Butler in Conference Showdown, 84-70
In a tightly contested conference matchup at Hinkle Fieldhouse, the visiting St John's Red Storm emerged victorious over their hosts, Butler Bulldogs, with a final score of 84-70.
The game was tied at halftime, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to gain a clear advantage. However, it was St John's that took control in the second half, outscoring Butler by 14 points to seal the win.
One key storyline that stood out throughout the contest was the balance of play between the two teams. Both squads showed impressive efficiency on offense, with St John's shooting an eFG% of 55.3% and Butler holding strong at 57.3%. The fast break also played a significant role in the game, with both teams scoring 18 points off turnovers.
The Red Storm's balanced attack was led by 12 steals from guard Julian Joseph, who added 17 points to his stat line. Forward Kevin Obanor chipped in with 19 points and 7 rebounds, while center Isaiah Barnes contributed 14 points and 8 boards.
Butler's offense struggled to find its rhythm, particularly beyond the arc, where they shot just 41% (7/17). The Bulldogs' shooting woes were compounded by their inability to defend against St John's fast break attacks. Butler committed 21 turnovers overall, including 5 in the second half that St John's capitalized on.
Despite the loss, Butler showed flashes of brilliance, particularly from guard Jairus Larkin, who scored 15 points and handed out 7 assists. The Bulldogs also controlled the paint, holding a 24-44 advantage in points in the paint.
The win marks a significant statement for St John's, which moves to 10-8 overall on the season. Butler falls to 9-9 and will look to bounce back from this loss when they host Marquette next week.
In contrast, Butler will need to regroup and refocus after a tough defeat at home. The Bulldogs have struggled with consistency in recent games and will aim to get back on track against a strong Marquette team.
The Red Storm's victory keeps them in the mix for conference playoff spots, while Butler falls out of contention. As these two teams prepare to face each other again later this season, fans can expect another intense matchup between two talented squads.
Game Leaders
- St John's: Kevin Obanor (19 points, 7 rebounds)
- St John's: Julian Joseph (12 steals, 17 points)
- Butler: Jairus Larkin (15 points, 7 assists)
- Butler: Bryce Kudrevi (10 points, 5 rebounds)
- Butler: Jairus Larkin (15 points, 7 assists)