St. John’s vs. Providence Brawl: 7 Ejected in High-Tension Clash

In a dramatic clash on Saturday, seven players were ejected from the highly anticipated matchup between No. 17 St. John’s and Providence. The brawl erupted following a hard foul committed by Providence forward Duncan Powell on St. John’s Bryce Hopkins, sending tensions soaring in the arena.

Details of the Brawl

Coach Rick Pitino of St. John’s found himself in the midst of the chaos, attempting to restrain his players. He later emphasized, “You’re not supposed to come off the bench, but you can’t let your players get beat up.” The altercation resulted in a nearly 20-minute delay as referees determined the consequences, ultimately ejecting four St. John’s players and two from Providence.

Game Impact

• St. John’s ultimately secured a 79-69 victory.
• This win marked the Red Storm’s 11th consecutive victory.
• St. John’s initially led by as many as 13 points during the game.

After the incident, a third Providence player was also ejected following another hard foul later in the game. Zuby Ejiofor of St. John’s reflected on the environment and its challenges, stating, “We knew it was going to be tough. You have to have a great mindset to come in here and win.”

Noteworthy Players

In a significant turn of events, Bryce Hopkins, who had transferred from Providence, played against his former team for the first time. He faced a harsh reaction from the crowd, receiving boos during warm-ups but later making important contributions after the brawl.

Coaches’ Reactions

Providence’s head coach, Kim English, criticized the foul by Powell, insisting it did not align with the concept of a “good hard foul.” Following the brawl, tensions flared once more after a foul by another Providence player, leading to the ejection of Jamier Jones. Pitino pointed out the crowd’s role in escalating the situation, remarking, “The crowd lost objectivity of what they’re here for.”

Conclusion

The incident has prompted the Big East Conference to review the game for potential further penalties. Commenting on the atmosphere and subsequent events, Pitino joked as he concluded his press conference and called for the Big East Commissioner for further clarity on the situation.