St. John’s Red Storm vs. Omaha Mavericks: A Comprehensive Analysis of the NCAA Tournament First-Round Matchup

Providence, Rhode Island, March 20, 2025 — The NCAA Tournament is celebrated for its exciting matchups and upsets, and so of course was the opening round contest between the second-seeded St. John's Red Storm and fifteenth-seeded Omaha Mavericks. Played at Rhode Island’s Amica Mutual Pavilion, this game featured the intensity and chaos that characterizes March Madness. ​

Pre-Game Expectations and Team Overviews

St. John’s came into the tournament with a strong 30-4 record, including an impressive 21-2 mark in Big East Conference play. They had a high octane, up-tempo style, which made them hard to play against. The team was built around dominating the paint, averaging 38.1 points per game in that area, led by the forward Zuby Ejiofor, who contributed 9.1 points per game from inside. ​

The Omaha team, with a 22-12 record and a 16-3 mark in the Summit League, was well experienced in consequential games. The Mavericks knew that 78.1 points per game would outscore their opponents by 3.1 points. They had a balanced offensive attack with several players able to do damage. ​

First Half: A Tightly Contested Battle

The game started with both teams tentative, and there were more missed shots and turnovers than points. No. 15 Omaha responded first with forward Marquel Sutton making the first bucket. St. John’s answered with a 3-pointer from the guard RJ Luis Jr., foreshadowing a back-and-forth brawl. ​

Neither side were able to pull away in the first half. It was a rough shooting night for St. John's, especially when it came to 3-point looks, and Omaha did not have much success penetrating into the Red Storm's defense. Isaac Ondekane, the Mavericks' center, also ruled the paint, pulling down numerous rebounds and swatting shots with his signature defense. ​

As the half wore on, St. John’s started to settle down. Luis Jr. made plays off the dribble and attacked the rim, which generated fouls, and Egifor’s interior work added some solidity. Despite such efforts, Omaha battled back to keep the game close. At halftime, St. John’s led, 33-28, a reflection of how closely matched the two teams were.

Second Half: St. John's Asserts Dominance

St. John’s came out to start the second half as a new team. As Rick Pitino's squad increased its defensive intensity, forcing Omaha into poor shots and turnovers, it was clear the coach had made adjustments in the locker room. Luis Jr., who also had a stellar first half, added back-to-back three-pointers as St. John’s increased its lead. ​

Omaha floundered in regaining their first-half confidence. Their shooting percentage sank, and they were plagued by foul trouble for key players. St. John’s took advantage of those mistakes, with the guard Simeon Wilcher running the offense seamlessly, moving the ball around and finding teammates for open looks. ​

About halfway into the second half, St. John’s went on a decisive run, outscoring Omaha, 17-6, in a six-minute stretch. This onslaught was punctuated by an emphatic dunk from Ejiofor, energizing the Red Storm supporters and all but snuffing any Omaha comeback. ​

As the clock ticked down, St. John's kept up its defensive pressure, preventing Omaha from making a late run. The final score, 50-34 for St. John’s, reflected that second-half dominance. ​

Key Performances and Statistical Highlights

• RJ Luis Jr., St. John’s: The sophomore guard was a game changer in the win, leading all scorers with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting and 3-of-4 from three-point range. He also added three rebounds and two assists, proving he can play everywhere on the court. ​
• Zuby Ejiofor (St. John’s): Ejiofor’s scoring was not to be had, but on the boards and defensive end he made his presence felt. He snatched five rebounds — four of them on the offensive glass — and added three helpers, giving the Red Storm second-chance opportunities. ​
• Isaac Ondekane (Omaha): The Mavericks’ center controlled the paint and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds, seven of them on the defensive end. He also scored six points, but his contributions came short against St. John’s. ​

Coaching Strategies and Adjustments

Rick Pitino’s experience was apparent in his management of the game. Realizing that his team was struggling to shoot in the first half, he made sure the players attacked the basket and upped the defensive intensity in the second. That strategy paid dividends as St. John’s made Omaha take contested shots and the Red Storm got out and ran on fast-break opportunities. ​

The coaching staff at Omaha tried to counter by switching to a zone defense to throw St. John’s off its rhythm. While initially successful, this approach proved ineffective as the Red Storm found soft spots and improved their outside shooting. ​

Post-Game Reflections and Future Implications

Congratulations to St. John's as they win and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tourament against a team to be determined. The Red Storm’s second-half showing solidifies their standing as a legitimate contender. Regardless, the first-half struggles are a reminder that haymakers like this can be proven by consistency, and that overlooking lower-seeded teams can often lead to dire consequences.

This loss ends a hard-fought season for Omaha, but their road to the tournament was a valuable experience in and of itself. Having shown they can go toe-to-toe with the bigger boys on the national stage, expect Dallas to build on this experience with plenty of promise in the offing.

To go deep into the NCAA Tournament, St. John's must find a way to balance their defensive intensity with offensive execution. The Red Storm are a team to follow through the next rounds behind RJ Luis Jr., Zuby Ejiofor, and the genius of Coach Rick Pitino. Because March Madness is all about momentum, and if St. John's can ride this energy through the tournament, it has the potential to have a major impact.

NCAA March Madness 2023: Catch all the action as the Red Storm continue their run towards NCAA glory.