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No. 17 St. John’s earned its 11th straight victory with a 79-69 victory over Providence on Saturday at Amica Mutual Pavilion, but not without some fireworks.
Six players were ejected from the match.
Providence forward Duncan Powell sparked a commotion with a hard foul on St. John’s Bryce Hopkins. Powell stood over him after the foul, and Hopkins got up and charged at Powell, starting the chaos.
Players from both sides quickly entered the fray, and eventually the St. John’s bench players could not be held back and joined in. Coaches, referees and security tried to stop the pushing and shoving on both sides.
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Duncan Powell (31) of the Providence Friars fouls Bryce Hopkins (23) of the St. John’s Red Storm at Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, RI on February 14, 2026. (Mr. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
After the game was delayed nearly 20 minutes, four St. John’s players were ejected while two from Providence were ejected. Providence’s Jaylin Sellers and Powell were ejected, while Dillon Mitchell, Ruben Prey, Sadiku Ibine Ayo and Kelvin Odih were the St. John’s players ejected.
The delay was so long that players from each team were warming up in front of their own baskets.
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Zuby Ejiofor (24) of the St. John’s Red Storm and Jaylin Sellers (2) of the Providence Friars exchange words during a scrimmage after a serious foul by Duncan Powell (31) of the Providence Friars (not pictured) at Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, RI on February 14, 2026. (Mr. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
St. John’s saw a 13-point lead disappear when the foul occurred. After the serious foul, St. John’s went on an 8-0 run and never looked back.
For St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino, it was a return to one of his previous head coaching stops. Pitino led Providence to the 1987 Final Four.
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Rick Pitino of the St. John’s Red Storm and Kim English of the Providence Friars attempt to break up the melee after a serious foul by Duncan Powell (31) of the Providence Friars (not pictured) at Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, RI on February 14, 2026. (Mr. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Red Storm, who were No. 5 in the Associated Press preseason poll, fell out of the rankings after opening the season 7-4, losing to three ranked opponents and Kentucky. They re-entered the rankings at 25th three weeks ago and have been climbing ever since.
