St. John’s Outlasts Rutgers 104-99 In Quadruple-Overtime MSG Thriller

After squandering a 20-point second-half lead, Rutgers fell to Rick Pitino’s St. John’s squad in a dramatic four-overtime exhibition at Madison Square Garden.

ByKerooja

Rutgers and St. John’s battled through four exhausting overtime periods on Sunday afternoon, October 18, 2026, delivering an instant exhibition classic inside Madison Square Garden. In front of 11,041 spectators in New York City, the Red Storm rallied from a 20-point second-half deficit to capture a 104-99 victory. The marathon contest featured 12 lead changes and 13 ties as both regional programs pushed their conditioning to the brink ahead of the regular season. While the exhibition will not count toward official records, the high-intensity clash provided vital developmental benchmarks for both rosters.

Scarlet Knights Establish Dominant First-Half Rhythm

Rutgers controlled the tempo throughout the first half, executing crisp half-court offense and suffocating St. John’s in transition. The Scarlet Knights shot 56.7 percent from the floor during the opening 20 minutes, closing the period on a 10-0 run to carry a 46-28 advantage into the locker room. Senior guard Tariq Francis set an aggressive tone early, scoring 13 of his team-high 24 points before the break. Sophomore center Christian Gurdak dominated the interior, tallying 12 first-half points while anchoring the defensive glass.

Pitino Press Sparks Red Storm Second-Half Surge

Trailing by 20 points early in the second half, St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino unleashed an aggressive full-court press that disrupted Rutgers’ offensive rhythm. The Red Storm mounted a rapid 16-4 scoring run, forcing multiple turnovers and tying the game at 52 with just under twelve minutes remaining. Keyshawn Hall powered the comeback, finishing with 24 points and 14 rebounds while shooting a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line. Dynamic freshman Ian Jackson matched Hall with 24 points of his own, attacking the rim with relentless physicality.

Exhausting Overtime Duels At The Garden

The drama escalated as regulation ended in a 71-71 deadlock, setting the stage for an extraordinary overtime sequence. In the first overtime, St. John’s guard Quinn Ellis answered a Rutgers lead with a clutch perimeter jumper before Tounde Yessoufou converted a tying layup with 18 seconds remaining. The second extra session saw Francis rescue the Scarlet Knights, drilling a contested three-pointer and sinking two pressure free throws to tie the game at 89. Gurdak secured a crucial defensive rebound on the final shot of the second overtime to keep Rutgers alive.

Tensions peaked in the third overtime as Francis generated a steal and scored a driving layup, but a hook shot by Red Storm forward Reed Bailey pushed the game into a fourth extra period. St. John’s finally seized decisive control in the final five minutes, scoring six consecutive points to build a multi-possession cushion. The Red Storm converted six consecutive free throws in the closing ninety seconds to ice the five-point victory. RaSheed Jones trimmed the deficit with a late breakaway dunk, but the Scarlet Knights ran out of time to complete another rally.

Physicality On The Boards And Interior Paint Battle

Rutgers displayed impressive frontcourt muscle throughout the contest, outrebounding St. John’s 58-51 and pulling down 18 offensive boards. Gurdak recorded a monstrous double-double with 20 points and 15 rebounds, while Darren Buchanan Jr. added 13 points and nine boards. However, St. John’s won the battle in the paint by a 58-40 margin and limited the Scarlet Knights to just 4-of-21 shooting from beyond the arc. The Red Storm also capitalized on timely transition scoring off 17 Rutgers turnovers.

Following the heartbreaking exhibition defeat, Rutgers associate head coach Brandin Knight emphasized the importance of late-game execution and poise against pressure defense. Knight praised the squad’s collective fight while acknowledging that fourth-quarter shot selection requires immediate refinement. Pitino commended the Scarlet Knights for their ability to break down defenses off the dribble, calling Rutgers a dangerous matchup in the Big Ten. Both coaching staffs utilized the four extra periods to test depth, stamina, and late-game decision-making under arena pressure.

Season Outlook Ahead Of November Tip-Off

As the regular season approaches in early November, both programs emerge from the Madison Square Garden marathon with clear tactical priorities. St. John’s proved its defensive tenacity and grit by overcoming a massive deficit against a physical Big Ten opponent. For Rutgers, building on an explosive first-half showing while eliminating late scoring droughts will define their ceiling this winter. Basketball fans across the metropolitan area received an unforgettable preview of what promises to be a thrilling collegiate season.

Sources

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Rutgers