Xavier @ St. John's preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 8, 2018 ) St. John's 60, Xavier 88

St. John's moved into sole possession of third place in the Big East Conference by winning their last game but face a struggle to stay there when they host resurgent Xavier on Thursday night. The Red Storm hold a one-game lead over Seton Hall and the Musketeers, who will take a four-game winning streak into the first of two meetings in the next 10 days.

St. John's rebounded from a 19-point drubbing at Providence with a 78-70 victory over Seton Hall on Saturday for its third win in four games and third straight at home. "We’ve been trying our hardest not to drop two in a row and we’ve done a great job of that," forward Marvin Clark II told the media after the Red Storm reached 20 wins for the first time since 2014-15. "Where we have to grow still is being able to win and go into that next game with that same mindset. Xavier appeared destined for a bottom-tier finish after losing six in a row, only to bounce back by rattling off four consecutive victories to pull within a game of St. John's. The reigning Big East regular-season champion beat the Red Storm three times last season and have won seven consecutive matchups in the series.

TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

ABOUT XAVIER (15-13, 7-8 Big East): Forward Naji Marshall, averaging a team-leading 14.4 points, was named the Big East Player of the Week after scoring a career-high 28 points at Seton Hall and followed it up with a 17-point performance against then-No. 16 Villanova. The 6-foot-7 Marshall has provided the impetus to the winning streak by averaging 20.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists in the four games. Burly forward Tyrique Jones was held to six points versus Villanova but has averaged 13.8 points and 10.3 boards while shooting 68.6 percent during the winning streak.

ABOUT ST. JOHN'S (20-8, 8-7): Shamorie Ponds tied a season low with four points at Providence - part of a three-game funk in which he shot 8-for-35 from the floor - but rebounded with 27 points against Seton Hall to record his 16th 20-point game of the year. "It's a combination of mental and physical, so when he is aggressive both ways he’s very effective," coach Chris Mullin told reporters. Ponds, who is third in the conference in scoring (19.7 points), second in assists (5.2) and No. 1 in steals (2.7), continues to struggle from long range, connecting on 4-of-26 3-point attempts over the last seven games.

TIP-INS

1. Ponds averaged 21.3 points in three meetings versus Xavier last season.

2. Xavier is shooting a conference-worst 68.6 percent from the free-throw line.

3. The Red Storm is 10-1 at Carnesecca Arena this season.

PREDICTION: Xavier 72, St. John's 71