By DENNIS CHAMBERS
NEW YORK — After losing their last six Big East Tournament games, St. John’s finally ended their rough stretch Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.
In the 8-9 matchup that kicked off the 2017 Big East Tournament, St. John’s prevailed over Georgetown, 74-73. The Red Storm will face No. 1 Villanova, the defending NCAA champion, in a noon quarterfinal on Thursday.
Malik Ellison – who affected every area of the game with 11 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals – recognized the long-standing rivalry between the two programs. The sophomore guard was happy to be a part of ending the losing streak.