Zuby Ejiofor totaled 16 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high 10 assists for his first career triple-double as No. 15 St. John’s relentlessly defended and overwhelmed Villanova from the outset and rolled to an 89-57 victory Saturday night in New York.

The Red Storm (23-6, 16-2 Big East) bounced back impressively from Wednesday’s 72-40 loss at No. 6 UConn. St. John’s remained a half-game behind the Huskies for first place in the Big East.

Villanova (22-7, 13-5) went 0-4 against UConn and St. John’s and was unable to inch closer to second in the Big East. The Wildcats lost for the second time in three games following a six-game winning streak and will finish third in the Big East.

Ejiofor made 6 of 12 shots after being held to six points Wednesday and got his 10th assist on a 3 by Josan Sanon with 3:12 left. It was the fourth triple-double in school history and second straight season St. John’s achieved the feat after Kadary Richmond did it last March 8 at Marquette.

Ejiofor joined David Cain and Ron Artest along with Richmond as the only players with a triple-double in program history.

Ian Jackson came off the bench and contributed 19 and a career-high five steals to help St. John’s earn its most lopsided win in school history over Villanova, eclipsing a 23-point win in January 1998. Oziyah Sellers contributed 14 as St. John’s won for the 14th time in 15 games.

The Red Storm shot 57.6% in the first half when they converted seven of their eight dunks. St. John’s finished at 52.5% overall.

Duke Brennan led Villanova with 12 points while Bryce Lindsay and Devin Askew added 10 apiece. Standout freshman Acaden Lewis was held to eight points and committed five of Villanova’s 16 turnovers.

The Wildcats also lost Matt Hodge to an apparent leg injury when the forward landed awkwardly trying to maneuver to the rim early in the second half.

Villanova shot 25.9% in the first 20 minutes and finished at 37% overall.

After Villanova scored on the first possession, St John’s ripped off 11 straight for an 11-2 lead on a 3 by Sellers with 15:47 left. The Red Storm expanded their lead to 30-14 when Jackson converted a windmill dunk off a steal and Ruben Prey made a two-handed dunk with just under nine minutes left.

St. John’s took a 20-point lead when Sellers connected with Ejiofor for an alley-oop dunk with 5:57 left, took a 30-point lead on a putback by Hopkins and held a 48-23 lead by halftime. The Red Storm never let the lead slip below 17 in the final 20 minutes.

–Field Level Media

Lane Thomas recorded two hits, including a triple, and five RBIs, as the Kansas City Royals cruised to 16-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies in Scottsdale, Ariz.

As a team, the Royals racked up 13 hits and 15 walks; 11 different players contributed a hit.

Rockies starter Michael Lorenzen allowed five runs, four hits, and four walks across two innings of action. Royals starter Seth Lugo fared better, giving up two runs, six hits, and zero walks across three innings.

Jordan Beck and Charlie Condon each hit a home run for the Rockies. It marks Condon’s third homer of the spring.

Rangers 7, Dodgers 6

Sam Haggerty homered, as Texas held on to beat Los Angeles in Surprise, Ariz.

The Dodgers had a split squad day. Dalton Rushing, Nick Senzel, Mike Sirota, and Jake Gelof hit a home run each for Los Angeles.

Andrew Velazquez and Nick Pratto had a double each for the Rangers. Luis Curvelo picked up the win after pitching a scoreless inning and striking out three.

Reds 9, Brewers 7

Dane Myers had two hits and three RBIs to lead Cincinnati over Milwaukee in Phoenix, Ariz.

Myers was acquired in a trade from the Miami Marlins this offseason and moved his spring training batting average up to .375. Matt McLain also had a strong day with two hits, including a home run, and an RBI.

The Brewers were rolling early, scoring four runs in the first inning against Reds starter Hunter Greene. Andrew Vaughn drove in a run in the inning with a single, one of three hits on the day. Andrew Fischer hit the Brewers’ lone homer of the game in the eighth inning.

Diamondbacks 8, Angels 5

Yassel Soler hit a three-run homer to lead Arizona over Los Angeles in Tempe, Ariz.

Luken Baker had a two-run blast for the Diamondbacks. Jorge Barrosa added an RBI triple.

For the Angels, Alek Manoah dealt three scoreless innings, allowing four hits and one walk. Zach Neto hit a solo home run.

Cubs 6, Dodgers 2

Colin Rea, Ben Brown, and Javier Assad combined to pitch eight scoreless innings, as Chicago cruised past Los Angeles in Glendale, Ariz.

That Cubs’ trio was dominant, totaling nine strikeouts, three hits, and zero walks. 2025 second-round pick Kane Kepley had two hits, including an RBI triple.

The Dodgers went 0-2 on their split squad day. They didn’t score their first run until the ninth inning on an Elijah Hainline walk.

White Sox 7, Guardians 5

Sam Antonacci blasted his second home run of spring training, and Chicago defeated Cleveland in Goodyear, Ariz.

Lamonte Wade Jr. added a double and two RBIs for Chicago. Starter Shane Smith secured the win, pitching three innings and allowing one run, two hits, and one walk.

2023 first-round pick Ralphy Velazquez went 2-for-2 for the Guardians. Alex Mooney hit a two-RBI single.

Giants 8, Athletics 2

Eric Haase hit a grand slam to put the exclamation point on a six-run second inning for San Francisco, as it held off the Athletics in Mesa, Ariz.

Jean Carlos Sio added a home run in the eighth inning. Trevor McDonald pitched two perfect innings with three strikeouts.

Michael Stefanic recorded the lone RBI of the game for the Athletics. They added their second run on a throwing error in the ninth inning.

Padres 7, Mariners 1

San Diego’s bullpen combined to pitch six scoreless innings to secure the victory over Seattle in Peoria, Ariz.

Jeremiah Estrada, Mason Miller, Alek Jacob, Bradgley Rodriguez, Ty Adcock, and Kyle Hart pitched a scoreless frame each. Estrada, Miller, and Rodriguez each struck out two. Hart allowed the only hit of the group; they recorded zero walks.

Luke Raley hit a 439-foot homer in the first inning to put the Mariners on the board. Jackson Merrill hit a two-run blast in the second inning for the Padres.

Red Sox 13, Twins 8

Max Ferguson hit a grand slam in the seventh inning to cement Boston’s win over Minnesota in Fort Myers, Fla.

Jarren Duran homered twice and drove in four runs. Trevor Story hit a triple.

For Minnesota, James Outman hit their lone homer of the contest. As a team, they recorded 13 total hits from 10 different players.

Cardinals 10, Marlins 2

2024 first-round pick JJ Wetherholt continued to impress, as he went 2-for-2 with three RBIs, one run, and one walk in St. Louis’ win over Miami in Jupiter, Fla.

Cesar Prieto also had a strong showing with a home run and a double. Starter Michael McGreeevy surrendered one run, three hits, and one walk over 2 1/3 innings.

Miami’s Andrew Pintar went 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI double.

Blue Jays 7, Phillies 5

Josh Rivera homered as part of a four-run sixth inning to power Toronto past Philadelphia in Dunedin, Fla.

The Phillies got home runs from Bryan De La Cruz and Bryce Harper. Prospect Justin Crawford went 2-for-3 in the leadoff spot with a double, walk, and stolen base.

Dylan Cease made the start for the Blue Jays, giving up one run, one hit, and one walk in 1 2/3 innings. Toronto had a split squad.

Tigers 12, Rays 3

Corey Julks hit a grand slam, as Detroit tacked on seven runs in the sixth inning to cruise to a win over Tampa Bay in Lakeland, Fla.

Julks went 2-for-3 with the home run and a walk. Josh Peck added a homer, as well.

Starter Drew Anderson had a strong outing, pitching three scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Taylor Walls finally got the Rays on the board with a solo shot in the fourth inning.

Nationals 3, Mets 2

Starter Jake Irvin pitched three scoreless frames with one hit, one walk, and four strikeouts, as Washington defeated New York in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

James Wood drove in the first run of the contest on a ground out to drive in Seaver King. Warming Bernabel later extended the lead to 3-0 with an RBI single in the sixth inning.

Mark Vientos and Nick Morabito added one run each with a pair of RBI doubles in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively, but it was not enough to close the gap.

Braves 7, Orioles 5

Chadwick Tromp drove in three runs to lead Atlanta over Baltimore in Sarasota, Fla.

Tromp kicked off the scoring with an RBI single in the second inning; he drove in another run on a ground out in the sixth. Finally, he hit a solo home run in the eighth inning.

For the Orioles, Adley Rutschman went 2-for-2 with a home run and a double.

Yankees 5, Blue Jays 1

Paul Blackburn powered New York past Toronto in Tampa, surrendering zero runs, four hits, and zero walks in four innings.

Jose Berrios made a strong start in the pitcher’s duel for the Blue Jays, allowing no hits and two walks across four scoreless innings.

Once Berrios came off the mound, the Yankees scored two runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by a Jose Caballero double. Austin Wells and Kenedy Corona hit home runs later in the contest for the Yankees.

Pirates 5, Astros 2

O’Neil Cruz hit a three-run blast, as Pittsburgh eclipsed Houston in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Cruz is up to an unreal .538 batting average in spring training. Marcell Ozuna contributed two hits.

Isaac Paredes hit a solo home run for the Astros. The game concluded in the sixth inning due to weather conditions.

–Field Level Media

Obi Agbim made a free throw with one second left Saturday night, lifting visiting Baylor to an 87-86 Big 12 Conference win over UCF in Orlando.

The Bears (15-14, 5-11 Big 12) led the entire second half until the Knights’ Jamichael Stillwell’s layup tied it at 84 with 1:08 left. After Agbim’s layup put Baylor up, UCF’s Devan Cambridge sank two foul shots with 25 seconds remaining to tie it again. UCF gave a foul with three seconds left, followed by each team using their final timeout to plot strategy.

Out of timeouts, Baylor fed Agbim for a 3-pointer and he was fouled by Riley Kugel. Agbim missed the first, made the second and missed the third but it was rebounded by teammate Cameron Carr, allowing the Bears to run out the clock.

Carr scored 26 points for Baylor, going 10 of 10 at the foul line. Dan Skillings Jr. came off the bench to add 15 points, while Isaac Williams chipped in 14 and Agbim finished with 12 to go along with seven assists.

Kugel scored 26 points to pace the Knights (20-8, 9-7), while Jordan Burks added 12 and Stillwell hit for 11. Themus Fulks managed only eight points, six under his average, but dished out a game-high 10 assists.

While UCF entered the game off a convincing win at No. 19 BYU on Tuesday night that likely sealed its at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, Baylor came in knowing it would need to win its last three regular-season games and then do damage in the Big 12 tourney to have a chance.

The Bears lit up the Knights for 56 first-half points, making 19 of 35 field goal attempts and going 8 of 15 from the 3-point line. Carr was instrumental in that effort, ringing up 20 points on just nine shot attempts. He was 4 of 6 on 3-pointers and made all six of his free throws.

UCF shot well for most of the half but went cold down the stretch. It was also outscored 10-2 in fastbreak points and went to the break trailing by 14.

–Field Level Media