NEW YORK (Interstat) — Saint John’s cruised to an 81-52 victory over Creighton in a Big East men’s basketball game Saturday at Carnesecca Arena. The Red Storm led 42-27 at halftime and never relented, holding the Bluejays to 25 second-half points. Bryce Hopkins led Saint John’s with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Dylan Darling added a team-high 17 points. Fedor Žugić paced Creighton with nine points. The win improved Saint John’s to 22-5 overall. Creighton fell to 14-14. An announced crowd of 19,328 watched the home team complete a regular-season sweep.

NEW YORK (Interstat) — In a commanding display of defensive intensity and offensive efficiency, Saint John’s overwhelmed Creighton from the opening tip, cruising to an 81-52 victory in a Big East Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at a sold-out Carnesecca Arena. The Red Storm (22-5, 12-3 Big East) never trailed, establishing a double-digit lead within the first five minutes and methodically expanding it throughout the contest before a crowd of 19,328. The Bluejays (14-14, 8-7), coming off an impressive road win at Connecticut, were held to a season-low in points and a frigid 32.1% shooting from the field. The most decisive stretch of the game came immediately after the opening jump ball. Saint John’s set a suffocating tone, forcing three Creighton turnovers and holding the Bluejays scoreless for the first three and a half minutes. A driving layup by Dillon Mitchell, a steal and score by Oziyah Sellers, and a Bryce Hopkins layup fueled an 8-0 run that prompted a full Creighton timeout just 1:42 into the game. The Bluejays never recovered, as Saint John’s continued to convert defensive stops into easy offense, building a 42-27 halftime lead. Hopkins, the Red Storm’s top star, led a balanced attack with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Dylan Darling added 17 points, while Zuby Ejiofor contributed 15 points, three rebounds and two blocks. Mitchell was a force on both ends, finishing with six points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. The Red Storm dominated the interior, outscoring Creighton 40-20 in the paint and outrebounding them 41-30. Creighton’s offensive struggles were comprehensive. The Bluejays managed only six assists against 16 turnovers, which Saint John’s converted into 19 points. Fedor Žugić led Creighton with nine points off the bench, while Josh Dix added eight. The team’s leading scorer, Owen Freeman, was held to six points on 2-of-7 shooting. Saint John’s offensive rating of 106.7 points per 100 possessions starkly contrasted with Creighton’s anemic 70.7, illustrating the chasm in execution. The Red Storm also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 20 of 23 attempts, while Creighton hit 12 of 18. The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Saint John’s, which defeated Creighton 90-73 in Omaha on Jan. 10. It also extended the Red Storm’s winning streak to four games as they solidify their position near the top of the conference standings. Creighton, which had shown promise with its midweek upset of UConn, fell back to .500 on the season with its most lopsided loss of the year. Saint John’s will look to continue its momentum on the road against Connecticut on Wednesday. Creighton returns home to host DePaul on Wednesday, seeking to regain its footing in the conference race.

Preview: Creighton Bluejays at Saint John’s Red Storm NEW YORK (Interstat) — A surging Saint John’s team will look to solidify its standing near the top of the Big East when it hosts a Creighton squad seeking consistency Saturday at Carnesecca Arena. The No. 21-ranked Red Storm (21-5, 11-3 Big East) have won nine consecutive games, including an impressive 76-70 road victory at Marquette on Wednesday. Forward Bryce Hopkins has been a catalyst, averaging 16.4 points during the win streak and coming off a 23-point performance against the Golden Eagles. Saint John’s, which boasts one of the nation’s top defenses, has not lost since Jan. 10. That date is significant for the visiting Bluejays (14-13, 6-8), as it marks their 90-73 home loss to these same Red Storm. Creighton arrives with momentum from a stunning 91-84 road win at then-Connecticut on Wednesday, led by 21 points from guard Josh Dix. However, that victory snapped a three-game skid, highlighting the team’s erratic season. Dix, Creighton’s leading scorer in conference play, will be a key factor. He is averaging 17.4 points over his last five games but was held to just nine points in the January loss to Saint John’s. Containing Hopkins and the Red Storm’s balanced attack, which saw Zuby Ejiofor add 10 points and three blocks off the bench Wednesday, will be the primary challenge for a Creighton defense that ranks in the middle of the conference. Saint John’s won both meetings last season and will aim for a regular-season sweep. A victory would keep pressure on first-place Connecticut in the league race. For Creighton, the matchup represents a critical opportunity to build on its UConn upset and enhance its resume for postseason consideration. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. EST Saturday. The game will be televised on FS1.