St. John's Wins 79-69 Over Providence After Brawl, Six Ejected

A brawl erupted during the second half of Saturday's Big East men's basketball game between the St. John's Red Storm and the Providence Friars at Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island, leading to the ejection of six players and a nearly 20-minute delay before the Red Storm secured a 79-69 victory.

The incident unfolded with 14:26 remaining in the second half when St. John's forward Bryce Hopkins, driving for a layup on a fast break, was hit from behind by Providence forward Duncan Powell. Officials assessed Powell with a flagrant 2 foul for the hard contact, which sent Hopkins to the floor. Hopkins quickly rose and confronted Powell, sparking a scuffle that drew in players from both teams. Punches were exchanged, including one from Powell toward St. John's forward Dillon Mitchell, as teammates and coaches rushed to intervene. Police officers and security personnel entered the court to help de-escalate the situation, while a fan was removed from the arena for involvement in the melee.

The altercation involved multiple players shoving and grappling under the basket, creating chaos that officials needed time to review. Powell and Providence guard Jaylin Sellers were...