Emotions boiled over Saturday afternoon before visiting St. John’s and coach Rick Pitino beat Providence 79-69. With 14:25 left and Red Storm forward Bryce Hopkins — a former Providence Friars player himself — streaking down the court on a fast break, Providence forward Duncan Powell hit him with hard contact up around his head, with one arm seemingly wrapping around Hopkins’ neck:
Tempers flare after Duncan Powell’s foul on Bryce Hopkins.
The Providence forward was ejected following the play. pic.twitter.com/RvzoRpJKuR
— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) February 14, 2026
That contact rose above the level of a common foul and set off a hotly contested skirmish under the St. John’s basket that led to six ejections. Hopkins immediately hopped up off the ground and got in Powell’s face. Powell and high-scoring Providence guard Jaylin Sellers were both sent packing for the hosts, while No. 17 St. John’s lost starter Dillon Mitchell and three reserves who left the bench area amid the chaos (Kelvin Odih, Ruben Prey, Sadiku Ibine Ayo).
After the game, Pitino placed the responsibility on Providence — a school where he used to coach — saying, “We didn’t initiate anything.”
He also lamented the impact of the crowd, which appeared galvanized by the skirmish and chanted, according to reports from the game, vulgarities at Bryce Hopkins: “The crowd lost objectivity of what they’re here for,” Pitino said.
Providence coach Kim English told reporters: “There’s a time to have hard fouls. You never want to hit anyone in the head. I didn’t think that was the time for a hard foul.”
The chippy play did not stop after the initial brawl, as Friars wing Jamier Jones committed a flagrant 2 on Zuby Ejiofor and made it three Providence players ejected in the contest. English appeared frustrated at the immaturity of his players as the non-basketball plays mounted:
Kim English just seems completely fed up with the decision-making by his players today. A third Providence player ejected, completely avoidable, just a dumb foul by Jamier Jones.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) February 14, 2026
The Red Storm got a massive performance from reserve guard Dylan Darling, who helped propel his squad in the aftermath of the brawl. He tallied 23 points, eight rebounds and three steals, while Hopkins nearly posted a double-double with nine points and nine boards in his return to Providence.