Butler overcame a 13-point deficit to send the game into overtime, but Mustapha Heron’s season-high 28 points allowed St. John’s to escape with a 77-73 victory Tuesday night in New York.
Paul Jorgensen had a chance to tie the score in the final 10 seconds but missed wildly off the glass.
Heron’s two free throws with 1.9 seconds left secured outright possession of third place in Big East basketball for St. John’s (6-6, 18-7). Heron missed the previous game with a bruised knee.
The Red Storm are 10-1 in their on-campus Carnesecca Arena.
Kamar Baldwin scored 16 and Jorgensen 15 off the bench for Butler (14-11, 5-7).