St. John's cruises past Butler in bounce-back win

St. John's defeated Butler 84-70 at Hinkle Fieldhouse for its second Quad 1 win of the season; Bryce Hopkins scored 17 points, including 15 in the second half.

St. John's beat Butler 84-70 at Hinkle Fieldhouse, pulling away after halftime. The Red Storm recorded their second Quad 1 win of the season and responded after a recent home loss. Coach Rick Pitino had suggested the team needed a strong reaction earlier in the week. The victory featured stronger defense and effective bench contributions. Key facts: - Final score: St. John's 84, Butler 70 at Hinkle Fieldhouse. - Bryce Hopkins scored 17 points, with 15 coming in the second half. - Zuby Ejiofor had 18 points and five rebounds; Ruben Prey added 10 points, two steals and one block off the bench. - St. John's forced 13 turnovers in the second half, and Butler committed a season-high 21 turnovers overall. - Butler shot 54% from the field and went to the free-throw line 14 times, converting 11 attempts. Summary: The win gave St. John's a timely bounce-back and its second Quad 1 victory, fueled by improved second-half defense and bench play. Undetermined at this time.