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Atlantic 10 showdown between No. 18 Saint Louis, VCU ends with shoving, benches clearing
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Atlantic 10 showdown between No. 18 Saint Louis, VCU ends with shoving, benches clearing

#Atlantic 10 #Saint Louis #VCU #Bench-clearing incident #College basketball #No. 18 ranked #Ejections #Rivalry game

📌 Key Takeaways

  • No. 18 Saint Louis defeated VCU 88-75 in an Atlantic 10 showdown
  • The game ended with benches clearing and multiple ejections after a late-game altercation
  • Barry Evans and Quentin Jones were ejected after a shoving incident with 1.1 seconds remaining
  • The victory prevented VCU from taking over first place in the Atlantic 10 conference

📖 Full Retelling

In a crucial Atlantic 10 conference showdown for first place on February 20, 2026, in St. Louis, No. 18 Saint Billikens defeated VCU 88-75 in a game that ended dramatically with benches clearing and multiple ejections after a late-game altercation between players from both teams. The chaos occurred with just 1.1 seconds remaining in the game when Saint Louis star Robbie Avila was dribbling out the final seconds. VCU's Nyk Lewis stole the ball near half court and attempted a desperation shot, bumping into Avila in the process and knocking Lewis over onto a broadcasting table. This led to VCU's Barry Evans shoving Avila in the back, which prompted Avila's teammate Quentin Jones to retaliate by shoving Evans. Despite the benches clearing and players from both teams joining the confrontation, St. Louis coach Josh Schertz confirmed that 'there were no punches thrown' and described it as 'a typical basketball fight, a lot of pushing and shoving and nobody did anything.' The altercation resulted in Evans and Jones being assessed flagrant fouls and ejected from the game. Officials also disqualified all players who left their benches during the confrontation, leaving just enough players from each team to finish the game after Lewis shot three free throws. With the victory, Saint Louis (25-2, 13-1 Atlantic 10) prevented VCU (21-7, 12-3) from taking over first place in the conference. Both coaches acknowledged the intense nature of the rivalry, with VCU's Phil Martelli Jr. calling it 'an intense game. It's an emotional game' and noting the mutual respect between the two physical and competitive teams.

🏷️ Themes

College Basketball, Rivalry, Sportsmanship

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Deep Analysis

Why It Matters

The bench‑clearing brawl highlighted the intense rivalry in the Atlantic 10 and raised concerns about player safety and discipline, potentially affecting future games and postseason eligibility.

Context & Background

  • St. Louis and VCU were fighting for first place in the Atlantic 10
  • The game ended 88-75 with multiple ejections and a bench‑clearing brawl
  • The incident prevented VCU from overtaking St. Louis in the standings

What Happens Next

The Atlantic 10 may review the incident and impose additional penalties; both teams will focus on upcoming games and maintaining their standings for postseason seeding.

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the consequences for the players involved?

Barry Evans and Quentin Jones were ejected and received flagrant fouls; officials also disqualified players who left the bench.

Did the incident affect the final standings?

Yes, St. Louis's win kept them in first place and prevented VCU from overtaking them.

Will there be further disciplinary action?

The Atlantic 10 may review the brawl and impose additional penalties, but no suspension was announced at the time.

Original Source
Atlantic 10 showdown between No. 18 Saint Louis, VCU ends with shoving, benches clearing A showdown for first place in the Atlantic 10 concluded with the benches clearing and multiple ejections in an 88-75 win by No. 18 Saint Louis against VCU By JEFF LATZKE Associated Press February 20, 2026, 10:55 PM ST. LOUIS -- A showdown for first place in the Atlantic 10 between No. 18 St. Louis and VCU concluded with the benches clearing and multiple ejections on Friday night. St. Louis won the game 88-75 , but before the final horn, there was plenty of action. Billikens star Robbie Avila was dribbling out the final seconds when VCU's Nyk Lewis stole the ball near half court and launched the ball toward the basket. Avila bumped into Lewis, who was knocked over onto a broadcasting table, and Barry Evans then shoved Avila in the back with both hands. Avila's teammate, Quentin Jones, shoved Evans in response. “There were no punches thrown,” St. Louis coach Josh Schertz said. “It was a typical basketball fight, a lot of pushing and shoving and nobody did anything.” Schertz joked that it was a typical basketball fight in which “everybody's trying to get held back so they don't do anything.” He said he didn't see anything that would be worthy of a suspension for either team. The two coaches were preparing to shake hands when the benches cleared with 1.1 seconds left. With the victory, Saint Louis (25-2, 13-1 Atlantic 10) prevented VCU (21-7, 12-3) from taking over first place. “I think there’s certainly a healthy intensity, as there should be at the top of the league, right? We've got a lot of respect for them. I think they have some respect for us, I assume,” Rams coach Phil Martelli Jr. said. “It’s two tough teams, two very competitive teams, two physical teams. Stuff like that, you wish it didn’t happen but, yeah, it’s an intense game. It’s an emotional game.” Evans and Jones were assessed flagrant fouls and ejected. The officials also disqualified all of the players who left th...
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