Stat Leaders

Starting Lineups

Recap

• Providence opened the 2018-19 college basketball season against the Siena Saints and Jamion Christian’s brand of “Mayhem” he brought to Loudonville from Mount St. Mary’s. Ed Cooley ran two freshman out in his inaugural starting lineup. One of those freshman, AJ Reeves, got hot right from the jump, finishing the first half with 16 points on 6/7 shooting. Reeves was joined in double figures in the first 20 minutes by Isaiah Jackson with 11 points (4/4 FG, 3/3 3FG) and Alpha Diallo (4/7 FG, 3/4 3FG) and Nate Watson (5/5 FG) with 10 points a piece. The other freshman starter, David Duke, played 7 minutes before picking up two fouls. Another point guard saddled by first half foul woes was sophomore Makai Ashton-Langford who was whistled 3 times before the break. Junior Maliek White picked up the remaining minutes at the point guard spot, running the team for 10 minutes and being the only Providence player to get to the free throw line in the first half (2/2 FT).  All told, Providence led at the half, 50-34, and 11 players saw minutes.
• The second half featured more of the same hot shooting by Reeves. Siena made a few runs to get their deficit down to single digits, including in the final few minutes, but the Friars put their foot back on the gas and kept the Saints at arm’s length each time. Reeves finished with 29 points — a Providence record for most points scored by a freshman in a debut — to lead all scorers in 30 minutes. Reeves shot 10/13 from the field, including 7/9 from downtown.
• Other Friars scoring in double figures were Alpha Diallo and Isaiah Jackson with 16 points each and Nate Watson who scored all 10 of his points in the first half. Diallo led the Friars will 11 rebounds and 5 assists.
• Siena was led in scoring by Sloan Seymour with 15 points on 5/9 from the field. Evan Fisher led the Saints with 6 rebounds.
• The Friars will trip down to Annapolis later this week to take on Wichita State at the Naval Academy on Friday. That game is part of the 2018 Veterans Classic and tips at 6pm on CBSSN.

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Mike Hopkins

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