St. John's Tops Providence in Big East Tourney Rematch

Red Storm and Friars meet again after brawl-filled regular season matchup

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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The St. John's Red Storm and Providence Friars will face off in the Big East Tournament, renewing a rivalry that turned physical in their last meeting. St. John's, the regular season conference champions, are favored by 11.5 points as they look to avenge their only Big East home loss of the season, which came against Providence in January. The Friars advanced to this matchup with a win over Butler, led by strong performances from Stefan Vaaks, Ryan Mela, and Jaylin Sellers.

Why it matters

This game carries significant stakes, as the winner will advance in the Big East Tournament. The previous matchup between these teams resulted in a brawl, adding extra emotion and intensity to this rematch. St. John's is the higher-ranked team, but Providence has already proven it can win at Madison Square Garden this season, giving the Friars confidence they can pull off the upset.

The details

In the regular season, Providence handed St. John's their only Big East home loss, 77-71, on January 3. Big East Player of the Year Zuby Ejiofor scored 33 points in the losing effort, but the rest of the Johnnies shot just 22%. St. John's got revenge with a 79-69 win at Providence on Valentine's Day, a game marred by a brawl that occurred after Providence's Duncan Powell took out former Friar Bryce Hopkins as he raced for a breakaway layup.

  • The teams split their regular season series, with Providence winning at home on January 3 and St. John's winning on the road on February 14.
  • This second-round Big East Tournament matchup is scheduled for Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 12PM EST.

The players

Zuby Ejiofor

The Big East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, Ejiofor is the star player for St. John's.

Stefan Vaaks

The Providence guard scored 28 points in the team's first-round Big East Tournament win over Butler.

Bryce Hopkins

The former Providence player was involved in the brawl with Powell in the teams' last meeting.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.