RJ Luis Jr. leads St. John's to NCAA victory

RJ Luis Jr. had an impressive performance in his first NCAA Tournament game. Playing for St. John's, he scored 22 points and helped his team win 83-53 against Omaha. Luis was on fire from long range, making five 3-pointers. The team set a tournament record by hitting 14 three-pointers in total. Luis has shown great improvement in his shooting this season. Since January, he has made 41.1% of his 3-point attempts. After the game, he talked about the team’s shooting confidence, saying it’s about ball movement and getting open looks. St. John's bench also played a crucial role in the victory. Deivon Smith contributed with eight points, six rebounds, and three assists. Vince Iwuchukwu made a pivotal play just before halftime, scoring a basket that gave St. John's a lead going into the break. Coach Rick Pitino received recognition for his work this season. He was named the Henry Iba National Coach of the Year, making him only the second St. John's coach to earn this award. He will be honored at a dinner in April. In the stands, St. John's booster Mike Repole was present, supporting the team during their big win.