Providence was up by one point before bedlam erupted in Amica Mutual Pavilion less than six minutes into the second half of the Friars’ Saturday afternoon game against No. 17 St. John’s.
Friars graduate forward Duncan Powell committed a flagrant 2 foul on a driving Bryce Hopkins, a Red Storm graduate wing who spent the previous three seasons at Providence.
That led to mid-game fight that resulted in six of the game’s seven ejections. A rampant Friars student section had front-row seats to the unhinged altercation, which notably saw Powell try to swing on St. John’s forward Dillon Mitchell, who ducked out of the way just in time.
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Hopkins had been hearing jeers from the Providence crowd well before Powell took a hack at him on the break. Following a lengthy stoppage in play, St. John’s took control of the game and held on to win the testy affair, 79-69.
This story is being updated.