No. 17 St. John's Survives Providence Push, Wins 11th Straight

Red Storm score 8 straight after fracas that results in 6 ejections

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Dylan Darling scored 23 points and grabbed 8 rebounds as No. 17 St. John's defeated Providence 79-69 on Saturday, extending their winning streak to 11 games. The game was marred by a fracas that resulted in the ejection of 4 St. John's and 2 Providence players, but the Red Storm responded with an 8-0 run to take a lead they would not relinquish.

Why it matters

This victory keeps St. John's in the hunt for a high seed in the upcoming Big East tournament, as they continue to climb the rankings after a slow start to the season. The incident also highlights the intense rivalry between the two programs, with Providence star Bryce Hopkins - a former Friar - at the center of the fracas.

The details

With Providence leading 40-39 midway through the second half, a hard foul on Hopkins by a St. John's player sparked a scuffle that led to the ejection of 4 Red Storm and 2 Friars players. After order was restored, St. John's went on an 8-0 run to take the lead for good. Another Providence player was later ejected for a separate hard foul.

  • The incident occurred with 14:25 remaining in the second half, with Providence leading 40-39.
  • St. John's went on an 8-0 run immediately following the fracas to take the lead.

The players

Dylan Darling

The leading scorer for No. 17 St. John's, finishing with 23 points and 8 rebounds.

Bryce Hopkins

The former Providence star, now playing for St. John's, was at the center of the fracas that led to multiple ejections.

Rick Pitino

The St. John's head coach, who previously led Providence to the 1987 Final Four.

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What’s next

St. John's will visit Marquette on Wednesday night, while Providence travels to DePaul on Feb. 21.

The takeaway

This hard-fought victory showcases St. John's resilience, as they were able to overcome a mid-game scuffle and multiple ejections to extend their winning streak to 11 games. The intensity of the rivalry between these two Big East programs was on full display, setting the stage for potentially more drama in future matchups.