Sports
No. 17 St. John's win over Providence marred by brawl, ejections
Feb 14, 2026; Providence, Rhode Island, USA; St. John’s University Red Storm forward/guard Bryce Hopkins (23) shoots during the first half of the game against the Providence College Friars at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Natalie Reid-Imagn Images Dylan Darling scored 18 of his 23 points in the second half, leading No. 17 St. John’s to a 79-69 win over host Providence on Saturday afternoon in a game that included a benches-clearing altercation that led to six ejections.
The game changed for good with 14:25 left in regulation. Providence’s Duncan Powell committed a hard foul on former Friar Bryce Hopkins on a breakaway layup. Powell, Jaylin Sellers and Dillon Mitchell were ejected along with Kelvin Odih, Ruben Prey and Lefteris Liotopoulos, who left the St. John’s bench area.
Following a delay for video review and debriefing, the Red Storm sank three of the four ensuing free throws to start an 8-0 run and take a 47-40 lead. Darling finished that stretch with his first of back-to-back 3-pointers and stole an inbounds pass for a layup.
St. John’s outscored Providence 40-29 to finish.
Darling sank three 3-pointers, went 8 of 9 from the foul line and added eight rebounds en route to a season-best performance for the Red Storm (20-5, 13-1), who extended their win streak to 11 since a Jan. 3 home loss to Providence.
Zuby Ejiofor scored 14 points, Oziyah Sellers added 11 and Hopkins had nine points and nine rebounds to add to the St. John’s attack.
Stefan Vaaks had 20 points, Ryan Mela scored 14 and Jaylin Sellers added 13 for Providence (11-15, 4-11), which has lost six of its last eight.
Before the brawl, Providence had been on a 14-1 run dating back to the final minutes of the first half, with a Jaylin Sellers 3-pointer highlighting the spurt and kicking off a back-and-forth stretch during which the game was tied two other times.
After the altercation, Providence got within four after Vaaks’ outlet feed led to a Jamier Jones three-point play with 13:55 left, but got no closer as Darling scored the game’s next five points and Ejiofor responded to multiple Mela baskets midway through the half.
Oziyah Sellers’ midrange jumper with 5:52 left gave St. John’s a double-digit lead again as part of a 9-3 run that put the game out of reach.
The Red Storm stormed out of the gates, responding to Oswin Erhunmwunse’s opening layup with a 10-0 run. Two Providence turnovers extended the segment, with Hopkins scoring the first of back-to-back baskets off steals.
After Mela’s layup stopped the run, Stu Jackson sank a 3-pointer and turned another turnover into a dunk for a 15-4 St. John’s lead in less than five minutes. A 5-0 burst brought Providence within seven, but back-to-back 3-pointers by Darling and Joson Sanon gave the Storm a 13-point lead.
A Jones three-point play and a Vaaks trey bookended Providence’s longest first-half run, making it 25-20 with 7:09 to play. St. John’s answered a near six-minute field-goal drought with a 9-2 run including a Hopkins transition dunk, but five Jaylin Sellers points and a Powell triple ended the first half.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Daytona 500 start time moved up due to weather concerns
Feb 13, 2026; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch (8) during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images NASCAR moved up the start time for Sunday’s Daytona 500 by one hour due to the threat of inclement weather.
The National Weather Service forecast calls for a 50% chance of rain Sunday afternoon, with the chances rising as the day goes on. Officials hope the time change will allow drivers to finish all 500 miles on Sunday.
Rain is nothing new for “The Great American Race.” The Daytona 500 was postponed to a Monday finish in 2024 and featured a 3 1/2-hour delay last year.
Pole winner Kyle Busch and Chase Briscoe will share the front row when the green flag waves to start the race at 2:13 p.m. ET.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Northern Iowa tight end Parker Sutherland dies at 18
Northern Iowa Panthers tight end Parker Sutherland (89) goes for the catch during a game against South Dakota State Jackrabbits on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota. Northern Iowa football player Parker Sutherland died Saturday morning at age 18, the university announced.
The school’s statement did not reveal a cause of death. However, on Thursday afternoon, Cedar Falls Fire and Rescue responded to a call from the university’s football complex, with the call log recording the reason as “unconscious/fainting (non trauma).”
“I’m heartbroken,” head coach Todd Stepsis said in a school news release.
“Parker embodied everything we look for in a UNI Football Panther. His talent and potential excited us on a daily basis, but it failed to compare to the type of person and teammate he was. His character, humility, toughness and genuine love of others are what champions are made of.”
A 6-foot-6 tight end, Sutherland played in four games as a freshman for the Panthers in 2025. He played three sports at Iowa City High School and was a second-team All-State football selection in 2024.
“We are devastated — just devastated,” Northern Iowa athletic director Megan Franklin said. “The blessing is that we have a Panther family who will hold the Sutherland family, our football team, and our athletics staff close as we grieve.”
Sutherland is survived by his parents, Adam and Jill Sutherland, and his sister, Georgia.
–Field Level Media
Sports
David Kelly named executive director of NBPA
Jan 21, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; A basketball goes through the hoop before the game between the Boston Celtics and the Indiana Pacers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images David Kelly was elected the next executive director of the National Basketball Players Association.
Kelly, who has been the NBPA’s managing director and general counsel since February 2025, will succeed Andre Iguodala, who will step down from the position at the end of his term in July, the union announced Friday.
“David Kelly is a transformational leader and one of the most respected legal minds in the game,” Iguodala said. “I am pleased the players recognize he is the right person to unapologetically fight for them.”
Kelly, who came to the NBPA after working on the business and legal side for the Golden State Warriors, served as a close adviser to Iguodala and NBPA president Fred VanVleet while overseeing all legal matters and the strategic direction of the organization
“I am honored that the players have trusted me to lead this next chapter alongside our dedicated executive committee,” Kelly said. “The energy and momentum Andre has built has created an incredible opportunity for our players.”
Kelly’s tenure as executive director could include overseeing the addition of expansion franchises and leading the union through the collective bargaining agreement with team owners, which is set to expire in 2030 but could come up earlier as either side can opt out in 2029. During part of his time with the Warriors, Kelly managed the team’s salary cap and oversaw all matters related to the CBA.
–Field Level Media
