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The No. 18 Saint Louis Billikens men’s basketball team avoided what would have been their third loss of the season Friday.
However, the Billikens’ 88-75 Atlantic 10 Conference win over Virginia Commonwealth University was marred by a late-game brawl.
With the score tied and Saint Louis dribbling out the final seconds as the home fans stood and cheered, VCU’s Nyk Lewis swatted the ball away from Billikens guard Quentin Jones and fired a half-court shot at the buzzer.
Saint Louis guard Robbie Avila appeared to push Lewis during the shot attempt. Moments later, both teams’ benches emptied and a brawl ensued.
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Saint Louis center Robbie Avila (21) drives to the basket during an Atlantic 10 Conference game against the Virginia Commonwealth Rams on Feb. 20, 2026 at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis. Louis. (Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Trainers from both teams were seen pushing and shoving near midfield before officials quickly intervened to try and restore order. After a break in the action, both teams returned to the field.
Lewis went to the free throw line and made three shows before the game officially ended.
St. Louis coach Josh Schertz downplayed the incident, describing it as a routine flare-up that can happen in intense basketball games.
“No punches were thrown,” Schertz told reporters after the game. “It was a typical basketball game, a lot of pushing and shoving, and nobody did anything.”
The officials disqualified players who left the bench area during the brawl, including Jones and VCU’s Barry Evans.
Saint Louis guard Isaac Holmes (12) drives to the basket as VCU Rams forward Barry Evans (5) defends during an Atlantic 10 Conference basketball game on Feb. 20, 2026 at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis. Louis. (Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
VCU coach Phil Martelli Jr. suggested that heightened emotions were inevitable in a matchup between two physical teams.
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“I definitely think there’s a healthy intensity that there should be at the top of the league, right? We have a lot of respect for them. I think they have some respect for us, I assume,” he said.
“It’s two tough teams, two very competitive teams, two physical teams. Something like that, you wish it didn’t happen, but yeah, it’s an intense game. It’s an emotional game.”
VCU Rams forward Lazar Djokovic (17) holds the ball as Saint Louis forward Paul Otieno (25) defends during an Atlantic 10 Conference basketball game on February 20, 2026 at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis. (Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Matches between Saint Louis and VCU have gotten chippy in the past, with a wild fight breaking out in the stands when the two schools met last season.
VCU returns to Richmond next Saturday for a matchup with Fordham. Saint Louis travels to Ohio for a meeting with Dayton on February 24th.
Battle between No. 18 Saint Louis and VCU leaves the Rams with just 4 players on the field
