Hard foul on Bryce Hopkins in St. John's-Providence game leads to melee, 6 players ejected

Tempers flare after a physical play, resulting in multiple ejections in the heated matchup.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A hard foul by Providence forward Duncan Powell on St. John's player Bryce Hopkins sparked a heated confrontation between the two teams, leading to the ejection of six players - Powell and Jaylin Sellers for Providence, and Dillon Mitchell, Kelvin Odih, Ruben Prey, and Lefteris Liotopoulos for St. John's. The incident shifted the momentum of the game, with St. John's going on an 8-0 run after the melee.

Why it matters

The physical play and subsequent fight highlights the intensity of the rivalry between the two Big East teams, with both squads fighting for position in the conference standings and jockeying for an NCAA Tournament berth. The ejections will also impact the teams' rotations and lineups going forward.

The details

With 14:25 left in the game and Providence leading 40-39, Powell made hard contact with Hopkins around the head and neck area as Hopkins was driving to the basket. This sparked a confrontation between the two players, which then escalated into a larger melee involving players from both teams. The officials reviewed the play and determined it warranted the ejection of Powell and Sellers for Providence, as well as Mitchell, Odih, Prey, and Liotopoulos for St. John's.

  • The incident occurred with 14:25 remaining in the second half of the game.

The players

Bryce Hopkins

A former Providence Friars player who now plays for St. John's.

Duncan Powell

A Providence forward who was ejected for the hard foul on Hopkins.

Jaylin Sellers

A high-scoring Providence guard who was also ejected following the incident.

Dillon Mitchell

A starter for St. John's who was ejected for leaving the bench area during the melee.

Kelvin Odih, Ruben Prey, Lefteris Liotopoulos

Three St. John's reserves who were ejected for leaving the bench area during the confrontation.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The incident is likely to be reviewed by the Big East conference, which could result in additional suspensions or disciplinary actions for the players involved.

The takeaway

This heated matchup between Big East rivals St. John's and Providence underscores the intensity of competition in the conference, with both teams fighting for positioning and an NCAA Tournament bid. The ejections will impact the teams' rotations and lineups going forward, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the remainder of the season.