INDIANAPOLIS — Expectations were set for a challenging matchup.

A fierce battle was on the horizon.

This season, much of St. John’s success has stemmed from its resilience in tough situations—emerging victorious despite obstacles.

So, it felt fitting that on the night they secured at least a share of the Big East regular season title, it came down to a gritty game like this one.

The seventh-ranked Johnnies weren’t at their peak in this slugfest; they were outrebounded by seven and outscored from beyond the arc, struggling to pull away from a disappointing Butler team, even after a strong start.

Yet, in the critical moments, when the game was hanging in the balance, St. John’s performed crucial plays on both ends of the court, just as they have throughout the season.

Following this hard-fought 76-70 win at Hinkle Fieldhouse, the Johnnies now have the opportunity to clinch the program’s first outright league title since 1985 this Saturday against Seton Hall. At the very least, they will share the honor with Creighton.

This marks the first time St. John’s has secured a share of the Big East title since 1992, while also setting a new program record with 16 league victories in a single season.

“We haven’t achieved anything yet. I don’t want to share [the title], and neither does the team,” stated RJ Luis Jr., a contender for Big East Player of the Year. “We have put in a lot of hard work this season, and while we may have let Coach [Rick Pitino] down defensively tonight, he always says, ‘good teams know how to win on off nights,’ and we managed to win despite not playing our best.”

Zuby Ejiofor stepped up when it mattered most, scoring six of his 12 points in the final stretch, while Luis converted two pivotal free throws with 1:48 remaining to extend their lead to four.

Deivon Smith also contributed with two more essential free throws. The Johnnies tightened their defense against Butler when it counted, outscoring the Bulldogs 16-7 in the last 5:48 of play.

“In the final five minutes, we executed all the right plays to secure our victory, and that’s what matters most,” Pitino remarked.

There were no celebrations following the win; that can wait until Saturday. However, Pitino hinted that he doesn’t foresee the team cutting down the nets at Madison Square Garden if they emerge victorious.

Leading the charge, Luis scored 24 points and grabbed four rebounds, while Kadary Richmond contributed 13 points, six rebounds, and five assists.

For Butler (13-15, 6-11), Jahmyl Tefort recorded 13 points.

St. John’s (25-4, 16-2) kicked off the game with impressive momentum, racing to a 17-7 lead just 5:50 after the tip-off.

They hit their first four shots and quickly transitioned to offense, leading Butler to call a timeout.

However, they cooled off significantly, managing only 21 points over the final 14:10 of the first half. Ejiofor faced foul trouble, which contributed to Butler staying competitive.

Butler started the second half similarly to how St. John’s began the first, scoring on five of their first six possessions, eventually narrowing the gap to just one point after an offensive rebound and follow by Patrick McCaffrey, prompting a timeout from Pitino.

St. John’s responded with a six-point run, but Butler countered with seven unanswered points to tie the game at 51 with 11:16 remaining.

Eventually, they took their first lead since the opening minute when Kolby King, a former St. John’s player, completed a three-point play with 7:38 left on the clock.

However, Luis quickly regained the lead for St. John’s before throwing down a dunk that shifted the margin to five points, allowing the Johnnies to hold on despite an inconsistent performance.

“That pretty much sums up our season—navigating through ups and downs and finding ways to secure wins,” Ejiofor commented.

This win sets the stage for a festive atmosphere at Madison Square Garden on Saturday afternoon, with St. John’s hoping for a third consecutive sellout.

After the disappointment of last year’s failure to make the NCAA Tournament, this season has unfolded like a fairytale.

“It feels like we’re achieving something new every game, breaking records along the way,” said Luis. “If we handle business on Saturday, we’ll claim a regular season title, something that hasn’t happened in 40 years. I anticipate the Garden will be electric. Seton Hall will bring their best game against us, and we need to defend our home turf just as we have all season. Our goal is to remain undefeated at home.”