Six players were ejected from St. John's 79-69 win over Providence after a violent bench-clearing brawl erupted. The fracas stemmed from a hard foul by Friars forward Duncan Powell on Bryce Hopkins, sending the Red Storm star crashing to the ground. St. John's coach Rick Pitino, who led Providence to the 1987 Final Four, was seen trying to hold back his players as several entered the fray. Four St. John's players and two Providence players faced discipline, with Powell ejected for a flagrant 2 foul and fighting.

The game was halted for nearly 20 minutes, allowing Providence to regain composure and narrow the lead to four points before the ejection. Hopkins, returning to Providence for the first time since transferring, was targeted by fans and players alike. St. John's forward Zuby Ejiofor stated the team anticipated the hostile environment and responded with a strong mindset, leading a comeback from a 13-point first-half deficit. The incident occurred during a game where Darling scored 23 points and Hopkins contributed nine points and nine rebounds despite the foul.