Stat Leaders

Starting Lineups

Recap

• Providence and Sacred Heart met for the 5th time ever on Friday night at the Dunk. With the way Providence has played over the last month or so it was almost shocking to see the Friars come out shooting hot and playing aggressive defense. Providence scored the game’s first 6 points and then after Sacred Heart made a bucket the Friars went on a 13-0 run to extend the lead to 17 less than 7 minutes into first half action. Providence finished the first half with a 17 points after scoring 49 points. That matched their highest scoring half of the season, tying their second half against Saint Louis. Rodney Bullock led the way in the first half with 16 points on 6/11 shooting. Providence shot 56.3% from the field in the first half, including 7/15 from beyond the arc. The second half saw the Friars cool off a bit from beyond the arc, but Providence didn’t allow Sacred Heart back into the game despite the Pioneers sneaking to within 9 late on the heels of a 12-0 run that coincided with Providence missing 7 straight field goals over a nearly 4 minute stretch. If I had to nitpick and find some negative in this game it would be Sacred Heart scoring 46 of their 75 points in the paint and grabbing 9 offensive rebounds. That is a season-high for allowing points in the paint (Minnesota had 40). But at this point this is the most positive result Providence could have hoped for heading into the Christmas break before opening league play next Thursday at St. John’s.
• Providence was led by Rodney Bullock with 31 points on 12/24 shooting. Bullock’s 31 points eclipses his season-high of 24 that he put up in their previous game against Houston on Wednesday. He fell 5 points short of his career-high of 36.
• Also in double figures for the Friars were Isaiah Jackson (17), Jalen Lindsey (13) and Kalif Young (10).
• Providence finished the game shooting 2 of their last 12 from the field. After starting 7/15 from 3-point range in the first half Providence shot just 4/13 from beyond the arc in the second half.
• Providence matched a season-high with 9 blocks in this game.
• Sacred Heart was led by Alex Watson with 15 points on 5/5 from the field.
• Also in double figures for the Pioneers were Mario Matasovic (14) and Sean Hoehn (11).
• Providence improved to 9-4 to finish off the non-conference portion of their schedule.
• The Friars open Big East play on the road at St. John’s on December 28th after a much-needed holiday break. That game tips at 7:00pm from Carnesecca Arena and will air on FSN.

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Mike Hopkins

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