NASSAU, Bahamas — St. John's basketball team has shown remarkable resilience all season, and it was on full display as they bounced back from a heart-wrenching double-overtime loss to No. 13 Baylor. Just a day after letting a five-point lead slip away in the final seconds of the second overtime, the Johnnies turned their disappointment into motivation, delivering one of their most impressive performances of the season against Virginia, winning decisively with an 80-55 score in the consolation game of the Baha Mar Hoops Championship.

Coach Rick Pitino praised his team after the game, highlighting their mental and physical stamina. "To respond that way is extremely impressive, both offensively and defensively," he remarked. The team played with a thoroughbred's spirit, refusing to succumb to fatigue or despair from the previous night’s loss.

St. John’s exploded in the second half, building on a solid first-half lead, and showcased an electrifying style of play that thrilled fans, including a series of spectacular dunks. Notably, Deivon Smith’s alley-oop dunk demonstrated the 6-foot guard's extraordinary athleticism.

The scoring was well-distributed across the squad, with RJ Luis leading the charge with 18 points, while Kadary Richmond added 12. Smith narrowly missed a triple-double, finishing with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists. Zuby Ejiofor made a significant contribution as well, rebounding strongly with 8 points, 9 boards, and 2 blocks after facing criticism for missing crucial free throws in the previous game.

The dominance in the paint was evident, as St. John's outscored Virginia 40-12 inside. Their shooting was equally impressive, hitting 10 three-pointers and finishing with a 52.5% field goal percentage. Improved rebounding, with an 8-rebound advantage, and a low turnover rate of just 7 helped solidify their control over the game.

Reflecting on the performance, Ejiofor noted, "It shows toughness. It’s important to bounce back and not dwell on the past. Everybody stepped up huge tonight; we all lifted each other up throughout the entire game."

Pitino, while pleased with the outcome, remained frustrated with the controversial ending of the Baylor game, where an apparent timing error on a last-second shot led to a loss that he felt should have been avoided. He believed the officials should have reviewed the final play, which could have potentially overturned the buzzer-beater by Baylor's Jeremy Roach.

"It was a mistake by the officials. It hurts. It could have been an awesome win for us," Pitino lamented, but he also looked forward to the upcoming challenge against Georgia on Sunday. "The best remedy for us was to play tonight, so we don’t let the loss sink in too deeply."

As the season progresses, St. John's will be looking to build on this encouraging win as they prepare for tougher matchups ahead, proving that they not only have the skills but the mental fortitude to contend with any opponent.