Saturday night’s second half was this remarkable season neatly packed into 20 brilliant minutes.

A jam-packed Garden full of St. John’s fans on their feet, making the building sound like it was 1985. One defensive stop after another became one easy basket in transition after another.

There was RJ Luis Jr., Kadary Richmond and Zuby Ejiofor taking turns burying Creighton, switching off like good and trusting teammates will in this 82-66 thrilling Big East Tournament championship game victory.

RJ Luis Jr. shoots a layup as Ryan Kalkbrenner looks to defend during St. John’s win over Creighton in the Big East Tournament final on March 15, 2025. Jason Szenes for New York Post

Once that run started, the second-seeded Bluejays were done, much like Marquette the night before, much like so many opponents throughout this Red Storm winter of joy.

It oddly began with a Luis technical foul, after he sank a 3-pointer. The junior celebrated too much.

Steven Ashworth pulled Creighton within two. Then came the St. John’s avalanche. An 18-5 burst that began with consecutive Richmond baskets inside and was capped by a Luis layup.

The lead was now 15. St. John’s was on its way to its first Big East Tournament title in 25 years, likely headed to a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Luis, the school’s first Big East Player of the Year since Walter Berry in 1986, poured in 29 points, with 27 coming after halftime.

A day after setting the St. John’s Big East Tournament record with 33 points, Ejiofor added 20 and Richmond notched 12 points, 12 rebounds and four assists.

Zuby Ejiofor blocks Ryan Kalkbrenner’s shot during St. John’s win over Creighton in the Big East Tournament final. Jason Szenes for New York Post

In the second half, St. John’s exploded for 57 points on 71.9 percent shooting, hitting 14 consecutive shots in one dizzying stretch.

Ryan Kalkbrenner, the four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year, was a nonfactor over the final 20 minutes, St. John’s piling up 50 points in the paint against the 7-foot-1 center.

The start was similar to Friday night, when St. John’s trailed Marquette by 15.

It was 10-2 Creighton immediately, the Johnnies already facing a deficit by the first media timeout.

RJ Luis Jr., who scored a game-high 29 points, celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer during St. John’s win over Creighton in the Big East Tournament final. Robert Sabo for New York Post

They missed their first six shots while Creighton hit seven of its first eight.

The Bluejays cooled off from there, missing 14 of their next 16 attempts, but still led by three at the half.

The Red Storm struggled mightily from the field, shooting 33.3 percent. Luis and Simeon Wilcher each misfired on four of their five shots, and St. John’s didn’t attempt a single free throw over the opening 20 minutes.

Kalkbrenner controlled the paint as he usually does, and the Red Storm got impatient, taking quick jumpers.

RJ Luis Jr. converts on a layup during St. John’s Big East Tournament title

win over Creighton. Robert Sabo for New York Post

Ejiofor led them with seven points, but needed eight shots to get there. St. John’s didn’t score a single point in transition, and was limited to three second-chance points on six offensive rebounds.

Luis pulled St. John’s even with a 3-pointer early in the second half.

The Johnnies went ahead for the first time on a Vince Iwuchukwu basket with 11:55 left. Richmond pushed the lead to three on the next possession, and the crowd was getting as loud as it had been the entire evening.

Luis followed with a basket, pushing the lead to five, but Isaac Traudt hit a fadeaway jumper from the left corner as the shot clock expired and Jamiya Neal added a dunk in transition to pull the Bluejays within one.

There was 9:05 left in the Big East season, and its two best teams hadn’t decided anything.

Out of a timeout, St. John’s got going. Luis sank a 3-pointer. Richmond scored on consecutive drives.

Luis finished in the paint. The lead was now eight, and Creighton called a timeout to try to quiet the Garden and shift momentum.

It didn’t work. Soon the lead would be into double figures. Soon, St. John’s would be celebrating another championship.