Benches Clear in Saint Louis-VCU Basketball Game

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The benches cleared during the final seconds of a college basketball game between Saint Louis University and Virginia Commonwealth University on Friday night at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri. The incident occurred after a Saint Louis player shoved a VCU player who had reached in for a steal as the Billikens were attempting to run out the clock on their 88-75 victory.

Why it matters

Bench-clearing brawls are rare but highly publicized events in college sports, often leading to suspensions and disciplinary action from the league. This incident highlights the intense rivalry and competitiveness between these two Atlantic 10 Conference programs.

The details

With 6.4 seconds remaining and Saint Louis leading 88-69, VCU guard Nyk Lewis reached in to try to steal the ball as the Billikens were dribbling out the clock. Saint Louis forward Robbie Avila took exception to the contact and shoved Lewis, causing him to fall into the stands. This sparked a melee as players and coaches from both teams rushed onto the court, leading to the ejection of two players - Barry Evans and Quentin Jones - for flagrant fouls. All other players who left the bench were also ejected per NCAA rules.

• The incident occurred with 6.4 seconds remaining in the game on Friday, February 21, 2026.

What’s next

The Atlantic 10 Conference is expected to review the incident and issue any necessary suspensions or disciplinary actions against the players and coaches involved.