No. 13 St. John’s overwhelmed Iona 104-65 Sunday in their season debut at Madison Square Garden, with new transfer Tounde Yessoufou dropping 23 points in his very first start for the Red Storm. This was not just a win, this was a statement. The Red Storm dominated Iona on both ends of the floor, showcasing an offensive explosion that’s gotta make every other team in the league nervous.
Yessoufou Leads the Charge in MSG Debut
Yessoufou was absolutely dialed in, shooting 9 of 14 from the field with a sick mix of crafty moves to the rim and four massive 3-pointers. This Baylor transfer wasn’t just scoring either. He snagged seven rebounds, pulled down three steals, and swatted away two blocks. Seriously, what an all-around performance in his first start. But he wasn’t alone. Ian Jackson added 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting, hitting three 3s in the opening minutes and scoring St. John’s first nine points. This squad hit 100 points for the third time under Rick Pitino, which is just wild early in the season, especially after that “uneven” 78-63 win over Monmouth a few days ago. The Red Storm shot a blazing 55.2% from the field and drained 13 of 28 from deep.
Defense Clamps Down, Pitino’s Legacy Looms
The offense was firing, but the defense was a menace. St. John’s pressure defense forced Iona into 19 turnovers and racked up nine steals. Guys like Keyshawn Hall added 13 points, while Quinn Ellis dropped an incredible 11 assists to go with his seven points. Lefteris Zsombo Maronka chipped in 12 and Lefteris Liotoupoulos had 10. The Red Storm took a 15-point lead thanks to an Ellis drive less than six minutes in, pushed it to 20 with a Ruben Prey putback, and then just ended the first half on an insane 21-4 run to go up 54-23. Yessoufou kept that fire going in the second half, hitting two quick 3s, and was pulled for good after his final basket gave the Red Storm a 39-point lead. It was a complete dismantling. This was also the second time Pitino has faced his old Iona team since leaving in March 2023. He led the Gaels to a 64-22 record and two NCAA Tournament bids before heading back to the Big East, so you know this game had some extra juice for him. On Iona’s side, Ore Odutayo led with 12 points, and former Red Storm captain Sadiku Ibine Ayo added 11, even getting a video tribute.
What’s next for this Red Storm squad? They’re hosting Colgate at Carnesecca Arena on Wednesday. After a performance like this, you know the Queens crowd is going to be absolutely buzzing.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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