PHILADELPHIA — When The Post asked St. John’s coach Steve Lavin and his players on Thursday, “Are you a team of destiny?” there was no way to know the Red Storm would continue their remarkable run for the ages the way they did yesterday.

The Red Storm Express is on such a roll that even when they vary from their proven style, they prevail. And yesterday, behind a career-high 34 points from senior Dwight Hardy, they prevailed on the road, 81-68, over a desperate, talented, tenacious Villanova team that has haunted these Red Storm seniors.

The Red Storm, smitten with early success on 3-pointers, kept firing from behind the arc. It served them well for about 30 minutes. But when the Storm — except for Hardy — went cold and the Wildcats started going to the line, it seemed as if the five-game win streak might end.

But No. 23 St. John’s (19-9, 11-5 Big East) reverted to the galvanized squad its become to gut out the victory over No. 15 Villanova (21-8, 9-7), the Storm’s first win over a ranked team on the road since January 17, 2002.

“We’re a great team and we get after people,” Hardy said. “When our defense is at the max, it’s so hard for teams to score against us and that allows us to get out in the lanes and run. When we’re running and hitting 3s and getting dunks, we’re a joy to watch.”

Hardy, who was praised by Villanova’s Corey Stokes as, “A Killa,” recorded his fourth 30-point game of the season as St. John’s snapped a six-game losing streak to Villanova. D.J. Kennedy and Paris Horne had 12 each for the Red Storm. Corey Stokes led Villanova with 20.

St. John’s and No. 5 Texas are the only teams to have beaten six ranked teams this season, and the win assures the Red Storm of at least a first-round bye in the upcoming Big East Tournament.

It is no longer crazy to wonder, “Is the Express bound for Houston, home of the Final Four?”

“We ain’t done yet,” Hardy said.

The Red Storm raced to an 18-4 lead and a held a 61-52 edge with 12 minutes remaining in the game. Then Villanova sliced that edge to 65-64 with four minutes left. A less experienced team would have folded. A softer team would have folded.

“They kept playing,” Villanova’s Maalik Wayns said of St. John’s.

After Horne made 1-of-2 free throws, Kennedy snagged an offensive rebound and fed Hardy, who was fouled. He made both free throws to give St. John’s breathing room at 68-64 with 3:21 left.

A minute later, Hardy silenced the Villanova fans in the crowd of 16,042 at the Wells Fargo Center (which held a strong St. John’s contingent including about 25 friends and family members of Philadelphia natives Horne and Sean Evans), with a baseline jumper.

Hardy got his 34 points on 9-of-16 shooting (5-of-9 shooting on 3-pointers) and 11-of-13 from the line.

Villanova coach Jay Wright said he was impressed that Hardy had just one turnover (to go with seven assists) in 37 minutes.

“I really believe that he’s a runaway for the Big East Player of the Year and moving into the discussion as an All-American,” Lavin said. “Because if you’re the best player in the Big East, you’re in the discussion for first team All-American.”

St. John’s hasn’t had a first team All-American since Walter Berry in 1986. Berry’s nickname was “The Truth,” and, the truth is, St. John’s, winner of six straight, is playing as well as any team in the country.

All aboard The Red Storm Express.

lenn.robbins@nypost.com

