Providence Melts Down in a Loss to St. John's and Bryce Hopkins

Bryce Hopkins didn’t embarrass Providence in his return on Saturday afternoon.

The Friars took care of that themselves.

In previewing Hopkins’ return to Friartown I’d written:

Providence fans will give Hopkins hell on Saturday, maybe they’ll even pull off another stunner, but any indignity left this year looks reserved for the Friars.

But who could have imagined this?

Playing without Corey Floyd Jr. and Jason Edwards (because, of course, PC was down a pair of regulars), Providence clawed their way back from a 13-point first-half deficit to take a second-half lead — but that’s when Duncan Powell took it in his hands to thwart any chance of a victory with a flagrant foul that led to a melee.

It was a scrum that resulted in the ejections of both Powell and star guard Jaylin Sellers, who had it rolling after a difficult start. Seemingly unaware that he’d ended the game with 14 minutes left, Powell enthusiastically motioned to the segment of the fans who were chanting his name, then jumped in place for a bit and bounded his way into the locker room.

Four St. John’s players were ejected in this one: Dillon Mitchell for shoving Sellers in the scuffle and three others who left the bench.

Like Mitchell, Sellers was ejected after being called for a dead ball flagrant foul.

This was a sequence that encapsulated so much about the past three seasons in Providence, where home games have become just as much about the show and subplot as the game — or more accurately on this Saturday, the circus.

“The crowd lost objectivity of what they’re here for,” Rick Pitino said following the game. “If they’re just here to poke fun at Bryce Hopkins and not get a win for the Friars, that’s not the Friars I remember.”

St. John’s scored eight straight points following the foul to take a 47-40 lead, and a Friar lineup that featured Nilavan Daniels, Peteris Pinnis, and walk-on Jack Williams at different junctures late didn’t have nearly enough to compete.

Whatever prayer of a comeback vanished with five and a half minutes left when Jamier Jones shoved Zuby Ejiofor to the ground on a fast break layup — a foul that led to a third Providence ejection.

Credit the Friars who remained on the floor throughout the second half — Oswin Erhunmwunse, Ryan Mela, Stefan Vaaks, Cole Hargrove, Daniels, Pinnis, and Williams. Providence somehow hung close enough to stay within ten the rest of the way, but they ultimately fell, 79-69.

Dylan Darling was the latest guard to torch Providence, scoring 18 of his 23 points in the second half.

Hopkins really struggled once again, shooting just 3-14 in his return to the AMP (he’s 6-27 in two games against his old team), but any embarrassment he felt was dwarfed by what Providence experienced.

“The scrum happened, I thought, at a bad time for us,” Kim English said following a loss that dropped PC to 11-15.

“There’s absolutely a time to have hard fouls. You never want to hit the head intentionally, obviously. I didn’t think that was the time for a hard foul. As I watched it live, I thought he could have just run harder and gotten in front of him and had a good, legal possession.”

It was clear in real time that was never Powell’s intention.

Andy Katz@TheAndyKatz

This photo shows the egregious and potentially dangerous foul committed by Duncan Powell on Bryce Hopkins. The foul led to a brawl. Powell was ejected for fighting and will at the minimum miss one game. @StJohnsBBall beat @PCFriarsmbb: @TNTSportsUS @BIGEASTMBB @MarchMadnessMBB:

11:23 PM · Feb 14, 2026 · 114K Views

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Providence simply had no one left late in the game, with Sellers, Jones, and Powell ejected and Floyd and Edwards sidelined. Floyd injured his hamstring at Seton Hall, while Edwards was a late scratch.

“I know Corey would have loved to have been out there. He’s a warrior. He played in pain at Seton Hall. We need all the guys we can get,” English said.

Edwards went through warmups, but decided he couldn’t go. “Seven minutes before the game he said he didn’t feel good. He said his foot hurt.”

For Hopkins, it couldn’t have been the performance he’d envisioned, and he’s likely just relieved to put this one behind him.

“I can understand the anger when anybody leaves, but you have to understand, Bryce is a great guy,” Pitino explained. “He blew out his knee. Things just weren’t going well for him and he just wanted a change. It had nothing to do with Providence or the coaching staff, they’re excellent. He just wanted a change — and I thought he was going to Georgetown, to be honest with you.”

“It was tough for him. I went through it at Kentucky, and it hurts. He’ll put on a good front, but it hurts because it’s not easy emotionally.”

This certainly wasn’t the type of revenge game Hopkins had in mind. He didn’t bury Providence. They buried themselves. He left the AMP with another ugly shooting line — but on a team headed somewhere.

For the Friars, this undisciplined mess was simply the latest entry in a season full of self‑inflicted lows.