02/14/26 03:12:00
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02/14 15:10 CST No. 17 St. John's survives Providence push to win 11th
straight, 79-69 over Friars
No. 17 St. John's survives Providence push to win 11th straight, 79-69 over
Friars
By JIMMY GOLEN
AP Sports Writer
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) --- Dylan Darling had 23 points and eight rebounds and
No. 17 St. John's scored eight straight points after a fracas that resulted in
six ejections to take the lead and earn its 11th straight victory, a 79-69 win
over Providence on Saturday.
Bryce Hopkins had nine points and nine rebounds for the Red Storm (20-5, 13-1
Big East), and the ex-Friars star was in the middle of it all when he was taken
down by a hard foul with 14:25 left and Providence (11-15, 4-11) up 40-39.
By the time things were sorted out, four St. John's and two Providence players
had been ejected, and the Red Storm were on their way to an 8-0 run to take a
lead that was never threatened.
Hopkins, who was booed during warmups and cheered when he missed shots, started
his career at Kentucky and spent two seasons as one of Providence's top players
before tearing his ACL in 2023-24 and transferring to St. John's for his final
year.
The game also marked the return of Red Storm coach Rick Pitino, who took
Providence to the 1987 Final Four but saw his hopes of a return dashed here
last March with a second-round NCAA Tournament loss to longtime nemesis John
Calipari and his Arkansas Razorbacks.
The Red Storm, who were No. 5 in The Associated Press preseason poll, fell all
the way out of the rankings after opening the season 7-4 --- losing to three
ranked opponents and Kentucky. They reentered the rankings at No. 25 three
weeks ago and have been climbing ever since.
Up next
St. John's visits Marquette on Wednesday night.
Providence visits DePaul on Feb. 21.
___
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