Game Turns Wild as Six Players Leave Court in Big East Showdown

A hard‑hit foul by Providence forward Duncan Powell on St. John’s star Bryce Hopkins sparked a chaotic melee that sent six athletes packing from the arena. The incident unfolded when Powell delivered a forceful challenge, sending Hopkins crashing to the floor. Coaches and officials scrambled to regain control, but the fight spilled onto the bench, forcing four St. John’s players and two Providence men to be ejected after a 20‑minute pause.

St. John’s, who had already secured an 11th straight win, fought back from a four‑point deficit to finish 79–69. Forward Zuby Ejiofor praised the team’s mental toughness, noting that they knew the game would be heated from the start. The Red Storm had led by 13 points early but let Providence claw back a one‑point lead before the brawl erupted.

Providence coach Kim English defended the hard foul as a legitimate tactic against a strong free‑throw shooter, but the action spiraled when former teammates and new challengers joined in. The bench fight escalated as players from both sides tried to intervene, prompting security and referees to break it up. During the stoppage, fans chanted “Duncan Powell!” and several players were ejected for flagrant fouls or leaving the bench.

The Big East will review the game to determine if further penalties are needed. After the incident, St. John’s coach Rick Pitino laughed about leaving before “fans beat the coaches up” and urged reporters to focus on basketball rather than the fight. Despite the turbulence, St. John’s maintained composure, with Dylan Darling scoring 23 points to lead all scorers and Hopkins contributing nine points and nine rebounds.

The teams will resume play soon, with St. John’s heading to Marquette next Wednesday and Providence traveling to DePaul on February 21.