Exactly one week after letting a late, double-digit lead trickle away before losing to Xavier, Butler found itself in a similar situation against St. John’s. The Bulldogs had led by as many as 22 at one point, but with just under a minute left, two free throws from Mustapha Heron brought the Red Storm within four. This time, Butler made seven of eight free throws in the last minute and was able to hold on for the 80-71 victory.
The Bulldogs dominated in the first half, led by Jordan Tucker, who scored a career-high 24 points on the day.