Michigan Edges St. John’s in 96-94 Overtime Exhibition at MSG
No. 7 Michigan triumphed over No. 5 St. John’s in a thrilling overtime exhibition at Madison Square Garden, ending with a score of 96-94. This closely contested game took place on a Saturday and attracted a crowd of 13,287 fans.
Overtime Highlights
The match was tightly contested throughout, with neither team leading by more than five points during regulation. In overtime, Michigan surged ahead with an early 8-0 run. However, St. John’s responded with an 8-0 run of their own, including two 3-pointers from Lefteris Liotopoulos, tying the game at 92.
With just eight seconds left and Michigan up by two, Liotopoulos drew a foul while attempting a 3-pointer. He was successful on his first free throw but missed two subsequent attempts. Michigan secured the rebound, sealing their victory when Roddy Gayle Jr. converted one of two free throws.
Key Player Performances
- Zuby Ejiofor led St. John’s, scoring 24 points alongside six rebounds and six assists.
- Joson Sanon added 14 points despite limited play due to foul trouble.
- Bryce Hopkins and Dillon Mitchell contributed 13 points each, with Mitchell also grabbing eight rebounds.
- Yaxel Lendeborg was the standout for Michigan, scoring 25 points and recording 10 rebounds.
Scoring Stats and Game Flow
Michigan started strong, quickly leading 13-6. However, they struggled offensively for several minutes, allowing St. John’s to close the gap. The Red Storm took the lead late in the first half, heading to the locker room with a 35-34 advantage.
In the second half, momentum shifted frequently. A 6-0 run from Michigan gave them a five-point lead. Still, St. John’s retaliated with a series of critical plays, including a stellar dunk from Mitchell and free throws from Ejiofor, which brought the score to a tie at 84.
Upcoming Season Outlook
St. John’s will launch their official season on November 3, facing Quinnipiac at Carnesecca Arena. The game will be broadcast live on FS1 at 6:30 p.m. It also marks the beginning of a doubleheader, with their women’s team playing LeMoyne earlier in the day.
This intense exhibition showcased both teams’ strengths and set a promising stage for the upcoming basketball season.
