Tounde Yessoufou Scores 23 in 21 Minutes as No. 13 St. John's Beats Iona 104-65

Photo: St. John's Athletics. Tounde Yessoufou, official St. John's roster photo. Card design: The Dyme.

FINAL, Madison Square Garden, New York: No. 13 St. John's 104, Iona 65.

Tounde Yessoufou scored 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including 4 of 7 from three, and added seven rebounds, three steals and two blocks in 21 minutes. It was his first start for St. John's, according to the Associated Press. Ian Jackson scored 17, Keyshawn Hall 13, Zsombor Maronka 12 and Lefteris Liotopoulos 10. By our count that is five St. John's players in double figures.

The turnover gap

St. John's committed 4 turnovers. Iona committed 19. St. John's scored 26 points off those turnovers, and Iona scored 2 off St. John's four, per ESPN. St. John's also had nine steals to Iona's one.

The Red Storm led 54-23 at halftime and led for 98 percent of the game, with a largest lead of 43, per ESPN. By our count the margin at the break was 31. It was 39 at the end. St. John's also won the second half 50-42.

Shooting and paint

St. John's shot 37 of 67 (55.2 percent) and made 13 of 28 threes (46.4 percent). Iona shot 22 of 54 (40.7 percent) and made 10 of 29 threes, its season high according to Iona Athletics. St. John's scored 48 points in the paint to Iona's 22. St. John's won the rebounding 38-28.

Iona went 11 of 13 at the free throw line, and St. John's went 17 of 24.

Quinn Ellis and the passing

Quinn Ellis had 11 assists and one turnover in 24 minutes, with seven points, five rebounds and three steals. St. John's recorded 22 assists on 37 made baskets, by ESPN's box score.

Jackson's three-point line was 3 of 8, and The Undrafted reported 11 of his 17 points came in the first half. Yessoufou scored 13 of his points in the first seven minutes of the second half, according to The Undrafted.

Iona's side

Ore Odutayo led Iona with 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting. Sadiku Ibine Ayo scored 11 in his return to the Garden. He began his career at Iona, spent three seasons at St. John's and came back to Iona for his final year, per Iona Athletics. Keyshawn Mitchell had eight points and five rebounds.

What it means

St. John's is 2-0 and Iona is 2-1. Iona was on a four-game road trip, per Iona Athletics. St. John's leads the series 9-3, per The Undrafted, and the Garden date was the first of 13 regular-season games there this season.

Sources

• ESPN box score, game 401924646. Final SJU 104, IONA 65; halves 54-23 and 50-42. SJU 37-67 FG, 13-28 3PT, 17-24 FT, 4 TO, 9 stl, 26 pts off TO, 48 paint pts, 38-28 reb, 22 ast, largest lead 43. IONA 22-54 FG, 10-29 3PT, 11-13 FT, 19 TO, 1 stl, 2 pts off TO, 22 paint pts. Yessoufou 23 pts, 9-14 FG, 4-7 3PT, 7 reb, 3 stl, 2 blk, 21 min. Jackson 17. Hall 13. Maronka 12. Liotopoulos 10. Ellis 7 pts, 5 reb, 11 ast, 1 TO, 3 stl, 24 min. Odutayo 12 pts.
• Iona Athletics recap, Brian Beyrer. Nov 8, 2026. Final 104-65 before 13,753. 54-23 halftime. Iona season-high 10 threes. Ibine Ayo 11 pts, return to MSG after three seasons at St. John's. Odutayo 12 pts. Fourth game of a four-game road trip.
• The Undrafted. Nov 8, 2026. Yessoufou 23 in 21 minutes, 13 points in first seven minutes of second half. Jackson 11 first-half points. Ellis 11 assists, one turnover. Series 9-3 St. John's. First of 13 regular-season Garden dates.
• Associated Press. Nov 8, 2026. Yessoufou 23 points, 9-of-14 with four 3-pointers, seven rebounds, three steals, two blocks in his first start for St. John's (2-0). Jackson added 17.
• Photo: St. John's Athletics official roster photo.