Xavier led by as many as 16 in the second half before St. John's stormed back to win it in overtime Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

Riding the program's best start in 39 years, No. 20 St. John's regained sole possession of first place in the Big East by rallying past Xavier 79-71 in overtime.

Zuby Ejiofor is second on the team in scoring average at 14.6 points and first in rebounds (8.2) and blocked shots (1.9).

Xavier lost Dailyn Swain to an ankle sprain while the sophomore was having one of his best games (career-high 16 points) vs. St. John's. Swain's status is up in the air Saturday, so it falls on Jerome Hunter to turn his season around.

In his second season on the job, Rick Pitino is at it again. This time, the Hall of Fame coach has St. John’s evoking the glory days in Queens decades

Xavier (12-8, 4-5 Big East) held a 16-point lead with 17:03 remaining Wednesday night in New York's Madison Square Garden and had a chance to put away No. 20 St. John's. But the Red Storm roared back as the Musketeers fell 79-71 in overtime.

Late in St. John’s overtime win over Xavier on Wednesday, Zuby Ejiofor was seen getting on Ruben Prey for being slow to box out on a made free throw.

St. John's Red Storm forward Zuby Ejiofor (24) looks to post up against Xavier Musketeers forward Zach Freemantle (32) in the second half at Madison Square Garden. Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images ...

St. John's is 7-0 in 2025, making this the program's first unbeaten January in 40 years dating to its last Final Four season in 1985.

St. John's enters the matchup against Seton Hall as losers of three straight games. The teams square off Saturday for the first time this season.

The Johnnies are among the nation’s best in shutting down opposing offenses — and it’s helped them get out to their best start in 35 years

St. John's guard Aaron Scott yells during Wednesday's game against Xavier in New York. St. John's head coach Rick Pitino yells on the court during the first half of Wednesday's game against Xavier in New York.