(BCSNN) — If there was any doubt about St. John’s belonging among the national contenders, the Red Storm erased it in a blistering, wire‑to‑wire 79–53 dismantling of 12th‑seeded Northern Iowa on Friday. The fifth‑seeded Johnnies (29–6) opened their NCAA Tournament run with the confidence and force of a team intent on staying awhile.

St. John’s scored the first 13 points of the game, buried six of its first nine threes, and built a 19‑point lead just 12 minutes in — all against a Northern Iowa squad that entered with the nation’s top scoring defense and one of Division I’s best perimeter units. The Panthers had allowed just 61.9 points per game and held opponents to 28.5 percent from deep. St. John’s shredded both marks, pouring in 79 points and hitting 10 threes, its most in a game since January.

With the win, St. John’s has now earned victories in back‑to‑back NCAA Tournaments for the first time since 1999–2000. And the Red Storm will head into Sunday’s showdown with No. 4 seed Kansas looking every bit like a team capable of punching a ticket to the Sweet 16.

Zuby Ejiofor anchored the effort with a 14‑point, 11‑rebound double‑double — his second straight in NCAA Tournament play — and added four blocks. Bryce Hopkins scored 13 points on 5‑for‑9 shooting, Oziyah Sellers knocked down three first‑half threes in his home state, and Dillon Mitchell contributed seven points and nine rebounds. Dylan Darling directed the offense with a game‑high five assists.

The Red Storm’s opening burst set the tone. Mitchell’s steal and and‑one dunk capped a 13–0 start, and threes from Ejiofor and Sellers pushed the margin to 32–13, forcing Northern Iowa into its third timeout before the under‑8 media break. St. John’s hit seven threes in the first half and took a commanding 47–28 lead into the locker room — tied for the largest halftime margin in program NCAA Tournament history.

Northern Iowa briefly trimmed the deficit to 13 early in the second half, but St. John’s responded like a seasoned tournament threat. Ian Jackson buried a three to halt the run, and when UNI made one final push, Joson Sanon delivered back‑to‑back threes to put the game out of reach. Mitchell’s alley‑oop slam with 57 seconds left punctuated a 14–3 closing run.

St. John’s didn’t just win — it imposed its will. Against an elite defensive team, the Red Storm dictated pace, controlled the glass, and showcased the depth, athleticism and shot‑making that make them a dangerous draw for anyone in the bracket.

Next up: Kansas, with a Sweet 16 berth on the line. And after Friday’s performance, the Red Storm look like a team no one wants to see in March.