St. John’s is in position to start piling up wins and has to do it. Its next four games are against Seton Hall and then three teams it already has beaten once – Xavier, Georgetown and Providence. The Red Storm should want to go into the Feb. 4 meeting with No. 7 Marquette at the Garden at 10-1 in the Big East and with a full head of steam.

The Red Storm and Hoyas traded blows all night at Madison Square Garden, but it was ultimately St. John’s that secured the victory.

The Red Storm, playing without starting point guard Deivon Smith (right shoulder sprain), had clawed back from a lethargic start and a 14-point second-half deficit to create a back-and-forth battle with Georgetown and ignite the Garden crowd.