Bryce Hopkins got the last laugh.
In the third game against his former team, he played one of his better games of the season and sent No. 9 Providence home.
He was predictably booed by Friars fans in pregame introductions, but they were quiet as they headed for the exits in the final minutes with top-seeded St. John’s cruising to a one-sided Big East Tournament quarterfinal victory Thursday afternoon.
“I think he took the first two games personally. He came out aggressive and he didn’t overthink anything [today],” Zuby Ejiofor said after Hopkins scored 14 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in an easy 85-72 beatdown of the Friars at a sold-out Garden. “He just made the correct plays each and every time down the court. It started off on the defensive end and that kind of sparked his offense.”
In the first two games against Providence, Hopkins struggled. He shot 6-for-27 from the field.
He made a concerted effort not to force shots this time. The result was one of his best performances of the season, efficient offensively (6-of-10 from the field) and active on the glass (season high in rebounds).
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“I think it was more just settling in and just playing through my teammates, not trying to do too much,” Hopkins said. “We have a great team, and not putting the focus all on me. There was a lot of attention about the matchup because that’s my former team. But playing through my teammates and stuff like that was the biggest thing.”
The highlight came late in the first half when Hopkins threw down a right-handed dunk over former teammate and friend Oswin Erhunmwunse.
“It felt pretty good,” he said with a smile. “People think I can’t get up anymore because I’m older, but it felt pretty good.”
As he has throughout this season regarding his former team, the 6-foot-7 Hopkins took the high road. He didn’t take any pleasure in ending Providence’s season despite Friars fans animosity toward him. He didn’t take this matchup personally, just wanted to advance in the conference tournament.
“I still have a ton of love for Providence. They may not have that much love for me anymore,” Hopkins, an All-Big East second-team selection, said. “That’s just what it is. It is the nature of basketball. I did spend three of my years at Providence.”