VCU closes with 4 players as benches clear in loss to Saint Louis - ESPN

ESPN

by Myron Medcalf

February 21, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

A thrilling comeback by No. 18 Saint Louis in its 88-75 win over visiting VCU on Friday night was overshadowed by a late-game altercation that led to multiple ejections and left VCU with only four players available for the final moments. The chaos began as time wound down, with Saint Louis guard Quentin Jones attempting to dribble out the clock. VCU's Nyk Lewis stole the ball but was bumped out of bounds by Saint Louis forward Robbie Avila, sparking a scuffle that drew players and staff from both teams onto the court. The situation escalated further as officials reviewed the play, with players continuing to exchange words. The altercation resulted in Avila being called for a foul, while VCU's Barry Evans and Saint Louis' Jones were ejected after being hit with flagrant 2 fouls. VCU's entire bench was cleared, leaving them with only four players available, while Saint Louis also saw multiple players sent off. The Billikens ended the game with six players on the court—five of whom were on the floor—and VCU had just four. Despite the chaos, Avila downplayed the incident, attributing it to the high emotions of a closely contested game. The victory extended Saint Louis' lead in the race for the Atlantic 10 championship by two games over VCU. The Billikens' second-half surge, highlighted by a 53-30 run, turned a game that saw VCU leading 45-35 with 18:42 remaining into an emphatic win. Saint Louis' resilience and ability to maintain composure despite the late-game fracas underscored their growing dominance in the conference. The incident, while dramatic, did not overshadow the fact that Saint Louis played a strong game, with Avila contributing 13 points and Jones leading the team with 20 points. The win marked another step forward for a Saint Louis squad looking to solidify its position as a contender in the Atlantic 10. Meanwhile, VCU's late-game struggles and the resulting ejections serve as a reminder of how quickly emotions can boil over in high-stakes college basketball. This game serves as a

Verticals

sports

Originally published on ESPN on 2/21/2026