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NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 Zuby Ejiofor<\/a><\/span> had 21 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three blocks as No. 13 St. John\u2019s opened its defense of last year\u2019s Big East Tournament title<\/a><\/span> by blowing out Providence 85-72 in the quarterfinals Thursday.<\/p>\n Bryce Hopkins added 14 points and a season-high 13 boards against his former team, helping the top-seeded Red Storm (26-6) advance to the semifinals Friday evening at Madison Square Garden. They will play fourth-seeded Seton Hall, a 72-61 winner over No. 5 seed Creighton. <\/p>\n Oziyah Sellers had 14 points and reserve Ian Jackson also scored 14 for the Johnnies, who topped the Friars 30-4 in bench points and outrebounded them 51-30 in what\u2019s expected to be Kim English\u2019s final game as Providence coach.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Multiple reports citing anonymous sources last week indicated the school informed English he will be fired after the season, his third at Providence.<\/p>\n St. John\u2019s scored the first nine points and led throughout, building a 23-point cushion in the opening half. No. 9 seed Providence (15-18) trimmed it to 11 after halftime, but the Johnnies pushed it back to 24 with a little more than four minutes left.<\/p>\n Stefan Vaaks scored 19 of his 23 points in the second half for the Friars, who handed St. John\u2019s its only Big East home loss this season on Jan. 3 at MSG. Big East scoring champion Jaylin Sellers had 21 points, and Ryan Mela added 16.<\/p>\n It was the first meeting between the Big East charter members since a fight-filled game<\/a><\/span> on Valentine\u2019s Day, when a raucous crowd in Providence tore into Hopkins, who transferred to St. John\u2019s for his final college season after a three-year stint with the Friars that was abbreviated by injury.<\/p>\n Hopkins got a measure of revenge Thursday with a soaring dunk on 6-foot-10 Oswin Erhunmwunse. Moments later, Hopkins gestured with his arm after draining a 3-pointer.<\/p>\n St. John\u2019s won both matchups with Seton Hall during the regular season.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here<\/a><\/span> and here<\/a><\/span> (AP mobile app). AP college basketball: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll<\/a><\/span> and https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/college-basketball<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nUp next<\/h2>\n