02/14/26 02:20:00
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02/14 14:19 CST Fight breaks out between No. 17 St. John's and Providence and
six players are ejected
Fight breaks out between No. 17 St. John's and Providence and six players are
ejected
By JIMMY GOLEN
AP Sports Writer
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) --- Six players were ejected from Saturday's game between
No. 17 St. John's and Providence after a fracas resulting from a hard foul by
Friars forward Duncan Powell on Bryce Hopkins sent the Red Storm star crashing
to the ground.
St. John's coach Rick Pitino, who led Providence to the 1987 Final Four, was in
the middle of it, trying to hold back his players. But several entered the fray
as it drifted toward the Red Storm bench.
The game was delayed by nearly 20 minutes while the referees sorted out the
punishments: Four St. John's players were booted and two from Providence, and
by the time the Friars got the ball back they had watched a one-point lead turn
into a four-point deficit.
St. John's led by as many 13 points in the first half, but the Friars rallied
in the second to take a series of one-point leads and had a 40-39 edge with
14:25 left when Hopkins --- who played three seasons in Providence --- went up
for a fast-break layup and was raked across the head and face by Powell's arm,
taking him to the ground.
Hopkins got up and moved toward Powell but was held back and guided away by his
former teammate, Friars forward Oswin Erhunmwunse. Others in the game got
involved and the players from the nearby St. John's bench couldn't be held back
any longer.
The pushing and shoving continued while coaches, referees and security tried to
break it up.
During the delay, players for both teams warmed up at their baskets. As the
referees updated the coaches on their decision, the fans broke into a chant of
"Duncan Powell!"
Providence guard Jaylin Sellers was led down the tunnel to cheers from the
crowd; he was soon joined by Powell. St. John's Dillon Mitchell, Ruben Prey,
Sadiku Ibine Ayo and Kelvin Odih also were ejected.
Hopkins made two free throws, then St. John's Oziyah Sellers made one of two
and followed it with a layup for a five-point play that gave the Red Storm a
44-40 lead. After a Friars miss, St. John's Dylan Darling hit a 3-pointer for a
seven-point lead.
Tensions flared again with five minutes left after a hard foul by Erhunmwunse
on St. John's Zuby Ejiofor. That was ruled a common foul, but Providence fans
under the basket got the Red Storm players riled up enough for the referees to
step in.
___
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