PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The nasty, R-rated chants were nothing compared to the in-game fireworks. 

Bryce Hopkins’ return to Providence was as venom-filled as expected in the crowd — there were several “f–k Bryce Hopkins” jeers — and it spilled onto the Amica Mutual Pavilion floor. 

Early in the second half, a fight broke out after Providence forward Duncan Powell’s violent takedown of Hopkins on a breakaway, leading to six ejections. Later, Providence’s Jamier Jones was thrown out for pushing Zuby Ejiofor from behind. 

Unlike the first encounter, though, back on Jan. 3, the No. 17 Johnnies were tougher amid adversity despite losing Dillon Mitchell, Ruben Prey, Sadiku Ibine Ayo and Kelvin Odih after the initial fracas. 

According to a pool report, Powell was ejected for a flagrant 2 foul and issued a technical foul for fighting and Providence’s Sellers was ejected for a dead ball flagrant foul. Mitchell was kicked out for a dead ball flagrant technical. 

They didn’t break. They didn’t fold. They were dominant after the stoppage, reeling off their 11th straight victory, 79-69, to notch their 20th win for a third straight season. The victory also marked a program record 10th consecutive Big East road victory. 

“We didn’t initiate anything. We teach toughness is not turning the ball over, creating steals, getting offensive rebounds,” coach Rick Pitino said. “That’s what we believe toughness is. We made some big plays. 

“My guys were tired. Zuby was tired and one time he said, ‘I don’t want to hear that nonsense, nobody’s tired,’ and I’m sure he was exhausted.” 

Dylan Darling was pivotal, scoring 16 of his 23 points over the final 13:55 as his importance continues to grow. Ejiofor added 14 points and Oziayah Sellers had 11. Hopkins tallied nine points and nine rebounds. 

With 14:25 left, Hopkins was clotheslined on a breakaway drive by Powell, and a fracas broke out, as Hopkins got up and shoved Powell. Powell appeared to take a swing at Dillon Mitchell during the incident. After a lengthy review, several players were ejected. Powell and Providence star Jaylin Sellers for the Friars, Mitchell and Odih, Prey and Ibine Ayo from St. John’s. The latter three were thrown out for leaving the bench. 

“You’re not supposed to come off the bench, but you can’t let your players get beat up,” Pitino said. 

The league said afterward it would review the incident to determine if any further punishment will be assessed. Providence fans voiced their support of Powell’s cheap shot, chanting his name as he walked off the court. They did the same for Jones later on. 

“The crowd lost objectivity of what they’re here for,” Pitino said. “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 in ’87.” 

After the delay, St. John’s scored eight straight points to turn a one-point deficit into a seven-point lead. The advantage went into double figures after a Joson Sanon follow slam. St. John’s extended it to 13 with under five minutes to go, and cruised from there. 

“Really proud of how we fought through it all and did exactly what we came here to do, which is get a victory,” Ejiofor said. 

The game started like the first one, St. John’s (20-5, 13-1 Big East) coming out on fire. It led 10-2 and was up 25-12 less than halfway through the period after consecutive 3-pointers from Darling and Sanon. Similar to that first meeting, the Friars responded and closed the half well. 

Providence (11-15, 4-11) was ahead, and was outplaying St. John’s early in the second half. Then Powell went after Hopkins, play was halted, and the Johnnies responded as they have since that first Providence loss. 

Hopkins had the last laugh, leaving Providence with a win, and a step closer to a Big East title. 

“It was tough for him. I went through it at Kentucky,” Pitino said. “It hurts. You can put on a good front, but it hurts. He got through it. I said Bryce, the most important thing is going away with a victory, and he got the victory.”