Six ejected after fight forces 20-minute delay in St John’s-Providence basketball game
Guardian Sport
by Associated PressFebruary 14, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
A college basketball game between No. 17 St John’s and Providence was interrupted by a heated altercation involving six ejected players after a hard foul led to a fight. The incident began when Providence forward Duncan Powell delivered a forceful foul on Bryce Hopkins of St John’s, causing the Red Storm star to fall to the ground. Tempers flared as players from both teams joined the fracas, with St John’s coach Rick Pitino attempting to control his team amidst the chaos. The game was delayed for nearly 20 minutes while officials reviewed the situation and handed out penalties, resulting in four St John’s players and two Providence players being ejected. By the time play resumed, Providence’s one-point lead had turned into a four-point deficit. Despite the turmoil, St John’s ultimately secured a 79-69 victory, extending their winning streak to 11 games.
The altercation occurred during a tense game that saw both teams battling for control. After the delay, the Friars struggled to regain momentum, and St John’s took advantage of the disruptions to pull ahead. Coach Pitino, who previously led Providence to the Final Four in 1987 and Kentucky to multiple NCAA tournaments, reflected on the incident afterward. He emphasized the importance of maintaining composure and discipline in modern basketball, contrasting it with the more physically intense games of his past when fighting was almost expected in conference play. Pitino stressed that while toughness is still essential, it must now be demonstrated through competitive play rather than physical altercations.
The incident highlights the thin line between competitive sportsmanship and unruliness in college athletics. The ejections and delay underscore how even a single moment of poor judgment can escalate into a game-altering situation. Such events often spark discussions about the role of referees, player behavior, and the expectations for coaches to manage their teams effectively. In
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Originally published on Guardian Sport on 2/14/2026