Benches Clear for Saint Louis, VCU Brawl at End of Regulation

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In the final seconds of a heated Atlantic 10 matchup between No. 18 Saint Louis and VCU, a brawl broke out on the court, leading to multiple ejections. The incident occurred after Saint Louis junior guard Quentin Jones attempted to run out the clock with his team holding a double-digit lead. VCU guard Nyk Lewis stole the ball and launched a half-court attempt as time expired, during which Saint Louis star Robbie Avila made contact with Lewis, pushing him out of bounds. This sparked a shoving match between VCU's Barry Evans and Jones, escalating the situation and leading to players and coaching staffs from both teams converging near midcourt.

Why it matters

This is the second consecutive season that a Saint Louis-VCU matchup has featured a fight, raising concerns about the intensity of the rivalry and the need for better sportsmanship and player conduct in college basketball. The incident also highlights the challenges officials face in maintaining control of games and preventing such altercations from occurring.

The details

Officials assessed a personal foul to Avila and issued Flagrant 2 fouls to Evans and Jones, resulting in their disqualifications. In accordance with NCAA rules, all VCU bench players and all but two Saint Louis reserves were ejected for leaving the bench area. That left VCU with only four players available for the final 1.1 seconds, while Saint Louis had six eligible players, five of whom were on the floor. VCU's Nyk Lewis converted three free throws before the game concluded.

• The incident occurred with 1.1 seconds remaining in regulation.
• This is the second consecutive season that a Saint Louis-VCU matchup has featured a fight, with the previous incident occurring on January 29, 2025.

What’s next

The Atlantic 10 Conference is expected to review the incident and issue any additional disciplinary actions against the players and teams involved.