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. Another PC player was kicked out following a separate hard foul later in the game.
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.
St. John’s visits Marquette on Wednesday night.
Providence visits DePaul on Feb. 21.
This story has been corrected to show that a seventh player was ejected in a separate incident.
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St. John's head coach Rick Pitino, center, yells after a fight broke out during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Providence, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Providence, R.I. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
St. John's forward Dillon Mitchell, left, a game official and cheerleaders fall as a fight broke out during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Providence, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Providence, R.I. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
A game official separates St. John's coaches and players after a fight broke out during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Providence, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Providence, R.I. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
GENEVA (AP) — Scores of shops and businesses in downtown Geneva boarded up their storefronts with wooden panels ahead of planned anti-G7 protests on Sunday.
French and Swiss authorities have imposed extensive security measures as U.S. President Donald Trump and other leaders attend a G7 summit of leading industrialized nations starting on Monday. There are concerns the gathering could trigger violent unrest.
The June 15-17 summit of some of the world’s richest nations being held in the French town of Evian-les-Bains, on Lake Geneva, is meant to discuss the Middle East, Ukraine and global economic imbalances. Activist groups including environmentalists, feminists and foes of capitalism have called for a big demonstration later Sunday.
A flotilla of around 20 boats appeared on Lake Geneva off the coast of Evian on Saturday, displaying anti-G7 and pro-Palestinian banners. Some 20 protesters were detained on Friday evening, according to Swiss media reports.
Earlier, between 100 and 150 people had gathered in Geneva for a protest bicycle ride, slowing down traffic and chanting anti-G7 and pro-Palestinian slogans, public broadcaster RTS reported.
Business owners and local leaders are worried of a repeat of violent protests that smashed storefronts on the sidelines of the G8 summit in 2003, when Russia was in the club of nations.
Local resident Robin Hedz lamented the “mess” and expressed bafflement about the “wood-wall everywhere,” while acknowledging the memories of the trail of damaged property at the summit over a generation ago.
The Swiss government said the army will deploy some 4,000 personnel to support police during the summit. Operations will include airspace and road restrictions as well as patrols on Lake Geneva. Seven of the 35 roadway border crossings will remain open. Geneva also is closing a major park where activists wanted to congregate.
France will deploy more than 13,000 police and gendarmerie officers to ensure security in the summit area just across the border. Over 800 French border control officers will be active, up from about 60 normally.
French gendarmes buzzed around in motorboats off the coast of Evian on Saturday, and one officer hoisted up a bulky drone-interception device in a display of the security measures being rolled out for the summit.
Protests are nothing new around such elite gatherings. This time, activists want to demonstrate frustration with Trump’s leadership on issues as diverse as tariffs, the war in Iran and the climate, or even highlight his past ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“We are very afraid of the policy and the politics of Mr. Trump and also of the other leaders of the G7, because they are fighting, making war all over the place," said Francoise Nyffeler, spokesperson for the NoG7 coalition, which has organized the demonstration and march on Sunday.
"The planet is in danger and we are very scared about it and we want to protest and say that the people of the world are against their policies,” she added.
A man rides his bicycle in front of a mural, ahead of expected protests for the G7 summit, in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)
French police officers check cars crossing the border between Geneva and the French town of Gaillard, France, Wednesday, June 10, 2026, ahead of the upcoming G7 summit due to take place June 15-17 in the town of Evian-les-Bains. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)
Pedestrians walk past the boarded-up windows of a shop, ahead of expected protests for the G7 summit, in Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, June 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)
French military boats patrol Lake Geneva in Evian-les-Bains, eastern France, Thursday, June 11, 2026, ahead of the G7 summit scheduled to take place June 15-17. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)
Construction workers board up a shop window, ahead of expected protests for the G7 summit, in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)
