St. John’s Misses 24 Shots in Historic Loss to UConn

Bassyonni

Published: February 26, 2026 2:57 AM ET

St. John’s Misses 24 Shots in Historic Loss to UConn

The No. 15 St. John’s Red Storm suffered a historic loss to No. 6 UConn, falling 72-40 at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford. This loss marked a new low for the program under head coach Rick Pitino, as they managed only 14 points in the second half.

St. John’s Offensive Struggles

St. John’s experienced one of its worst offensive performances, netting just 11 field goals throughout the game. In the second half, the team made only two field goals, both from Zuby Ejiofor early in the period. Following these initial baskets, the Red Storm missed 24 consecutive shots over 17:28, resulting in the lowest scoring game for a Pitino-led team.

Fewest Points: St. John’s scored 40 points.
Second Half Points: Only 14 points were registered in the second half.
Field Goals Made: 11 out of 56 attempts.
Three-Point Shooting: 5 of 20 from behind the arc.

Historical Context

This defeat was the most lopsided loss during the Pitino era and marked the first time a team coached by him scored fewer than 43 points, a record he previously set in 1981 while coaching at Boston University. The team’s shooting struggles are notable, as the 24 consecutive missed field goals represent the longest such streak for both a ranked team and a Big East team in eight seasons. Additionally, this represents the longest streak of missed shots for any Division I team since 2022.

UConn’s Dominance

UConn capitalized on St. John’s offensive decline, outscoring them 31-14 in the second half. Tarris Reed Jr. led the Huskies with 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Alex Karaban contributed 14 points. The team collectively shot 47% from the field, which aided their commanding victory.

Implications for St. John’s

Following this defeat, St. John’s record now stands at 22-6, with the loss breaking their 13-game winning streak. Pitino expressed disappointment, stating the team did not replicate the strong offense they had shown in previous games.

Looking ahead, St. John’s needs to secure wins in their final three regular-season games to maintain hopes of a second consecutive conference title. Pitino emphasized the importance of correcting their mistakes quickly, acknowledging their upcoming match against Villanova as crucial for their championship aspirations.