VILLANOVA, Pa. — Several “Let’s go Johnnies” chants broke out. A few boos came from grumpy Villanova fans as they left Finneran Pavilion early. 

No, this wasn’t a St. John’s fan’s fever dream, though it must’ve felt like one. 

For the first time since 1993, St. John’s left the campus of Villanova victorious, and it did so with relative ease. Even without starting power forward Chris Ledlum (sprained ankle), Rick Pitino’s Johnnies led wire to wire and overwhelmed the Wildcats, 81-71, handing them their first Big East loss in emphatic fashion. 

For most of the second half, St. John’s (11-4) led by double figures, improving to 3-1 in league play — their best start since the 2010-11 season.

They haven’t trailed in those three wins, have held double-figures advantages in all of them and are in a four-way tie atop the Big East with Seton Hall, UConn and Villanova. 

“I feel like this is only the beginning for us,” said star center Joel Soriano, who beat Villanova (10-5) for the first time in six tries. “Now I feel like we’re more connected, guys are more in tune to what we need to do to be the team we want to be. We have six fifth-year guys that are trying to do something special for their last year.

“So a win like this is big of course, but we’ll take it for the night, but get ready for the next one.” 

Daniss Jenkins was the best player on the floor, continuing his recent impressive play with 18 points, five assists, three steals and a game-high, plus-13 rating.

Soriano owned the paint, notching 20 points, eight rebounds and three assists, and freshman Brady Dunlap, suddenly a key part of this team, added a career-high 15 points in his first start.

A question mark to play due to recurring shin splints, RJ Luis had 11 points and seven rebounds. 

Defense was again this team’s calling card, a key to their 5-1 record since an ugly loss to Boston College on Dec. 10. After that loss, Pitino called his team’s defense “abominable.”

Since, the Red Storm have gone from 127th in defensive efficiency to 57th.

They held Villanova to 6-for-28 (21.4 percent) shooting from 3-point range and limited star forward Eric Dixon to 14 points on 4-of-18 shooting (22.2 percent). 

“Now they’re all becoming a good defensive team,” Pitino said. “They’re mixing up their zone with their man, they’re mixing up their presses. They’re an intelligent group.” 

TJ Bamba led Villanova (10-5, 3-1) with 23 points.

The Wildcats were without star guard Justin Moore (sprained right knee).

They had been 4-0 in his absence before this game. 

St. John’s couldn’t have scripted a better start. It led 10-0 and was up 24-9 with 9:03 left in the first half. It started the second half the same way: with a burst.

The lead, down to six at halftime, quickly was back to 14. Villanova did get within seven, but 3-pointers as the shot clock expired by Dunlap and Jenkins padded the lead and quieted the crowd.

The Johnnies were up by 13 at the under-8 timeout and headed to their first win on the campus of Villanova in 30 years.

They had lost 14 in a row in this building. 

“That’s why I committed here, that’s why everyone in the locker room committed here,” Dunlap said. “Coach Pitino is changing what’s going on here at St. John’s. It’s truly special to be a part of something like that with Coach Pitino and all those guys in the locker room that are truly a family.”