Bryce Hopkins Shines as St. John’s Dominates Providence in Big East Quarterfinals

Bryce Hopkins Leads St. John’s to Big East Semifinals

NEW YORK (AP) – St. John’s Red Storm emphatically began their defense of the Big East Tournament title with an 85-72 quarterfinal victory over the Providence Friars on Thursday. Zuby Ejiofor led the charge with 21 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks, but it was the performance of Bryce Hopkins that truly resonated.

Hopkins’ Impact Against Former Team

Bryce Hopkins added 14 points and a season-high 13 rebounds against his former team, playing a pivotal role in the top-seeded Red Storm’s (26-6) advancement to the semifinals. The victory sets up a Friday evening clash against fourth-seeded Seton Hall, who defeated Creighton 72-61.

Oziyah Sellers and Ian Jackson each contributed 14 points for the Johnnies, who showcased a dominant performance on the bench, outscoring the Friars 30-4. St. John’s also controlled the boards, outrebounding Providence 51-30.

Providence’s Struggles and Coaching Uncertainty

The game is widely anticipated to be Kim English’s final one as Providence coach. Reports surfaced last week indicating the school will not renew his contract after the season. Providence (15-18) struggled to contain St. John’s throughout the game, despite a second-half push led by Stefan Vaaks, who scored 19 of his 23 points after halftime.

A Game with History

This matchup carried extra weight, being the first since a contentious game on Valentine’s Day marred by a physical altercation. That previous encounter saw Bryce Hopkins, who transferred to St. John’s after three injury-shortened seasons with the Friars, targeted by the Providence crowd. Hopkins appeared to relish the opportunity for a measure of revenge, delivering a powerful dunk over Oswin Erhunmwunse and celebrating with a gesture after sinking a 3-pointer.

Looking Ahead to the Semifinals

St. John’s swept both regular-season matchups against Seton Hall, setting the stage for an exciting semifinal showdown. Jaylin Sellers led Providence with 21 points, while Ryan Mela added 16.

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