📅 Date & Time: Friday, November 24, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.
📍 Venue: Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, R.I.
📺 Broadcast: FS2 with Gary Apple and Vin Parise (Fox Sports App); Radio with John Rooke and Joe Hassett on WPRO-99.7 FM/630 AM (The Varsity Network App & YouTube); FriarTV
🤑 Opening Line: Providence -18.5, Over/Under 142.5
Providence College Friars:
- Record: 4-1
- Last Game Starters:
- Ticket Gaines, Gr., G, 6.6 ppg/4.6 rpg
- Josh Oduro, Gr., F, 12.2 ppg/6.6 rpg
- Corey Floyd, Jr., R So., G, 5.2 ppg/2.8 rpg
- Devin Carter, Jr., G, 16.6 ppg/7.6 rpg
- Bryce Hopkins, Jr., F/G, 13.8 ppg/8.4 rpg
- Recent Performances:
- Devin Carter put up a double-double last time out against Georgia with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Carter was named to the All-Tournament Team for the Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship event
- Josh Oduro also scored 19 points against Georgia, was 6/8 from the field and pulled down 9 rebounds.
- Providence has outscored their opponents, 35-10, over their last four games on fast-break points
- Historical Performances:
- Providence and Lehigh have never played. The Friars are 56-34 all-time against Patriot League teams with their last game against anyone from that league coming on November 13, 2018 when Providence defeated Holy Cross, 70-61, at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.
- Stat Leaders:
- Points/Game – Devin Carter, 16.6
- Rebounds/Game – Bryce Hopkins, 8.4
- Assists/Game – Devin Carter, 3.4
- Minutes/Game – Bryce Hopkins, 35.2
Lehigh Mountain Hawks
- Record: 1-4
- Last Game Starters:
- Keith Higgins, Jr., G, 15.6 ppg/4.0 rpg
- Bube Momah, So., F, 7.6 ppg/4.0 rpgh
- Dominic Parolin, Sr., F/C, 9.6 ppg/7.6 rpg
- Jalin Sinclair, Sr., G, 6.8 ppg/2.6 apg
- Tyler Whitney-Sidney, Jr., G, 14.0 ppg/3.2 rpg
- Recent Performances:
- Lehigh lost their last game on November 21st at Monmouth, 88-79. Their lone win on the season came in a matchup of Divison 3 SUNY Oneonta, 90-65, on November 16th. The Mountain Hawks have also lost to Cornell, Penn State and North Carolina.
- Historical Performances:
- Lehigh is 1-3 against teams from the Big East under Head Coach Brett Reed who is in his 17th season. The lone victory came against DePaul, 86-74, in 2014.
- Stat Leaders:
- Points/Game – Keith Higgins, 15.6
- Rebounds/Game – Keith Higgins and Bube Momah, 4.0
- Assists/Game – Jalin Sinclair, 2.6
- Minutes/Game – Keith Higgins, 28.6
Quote Corner: “X” – XX
Game Preview:
Providence is coming off a 2-1 week with wins over Wisconsin and Georgia and a loss against Kansas State with the latter two games played as part of the 2023 Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship in Nassau, Bahamas. While Garwey Dual will return for this game after a 1-game suspension for a fighting ejection at the end of the Kansas State game last Friday, Jayden Pierre’s status is more uncertain after the sophomore starting point guard injured his hamstring during a Thursday practice last week in the Bahamas. Kim English said Pierre is “moving in the right direction” during a media availability on Wednesday and listed his status as “to be determined.” Given the time of the season and upcoming opponents I’d be surprised to see Pierre go in this game, though.
Kim English on Jayden Pierre: “he’s moving in the right direction. Still to be determined if he’ll be ready to go (against Lehigh on Friday).” #pcbb
— Brendan McGair (@BWMcGair03) November 22, 2023
Lehigh is 1-4 on the season with their lone win coming against Division 3 SUNY Oneonta and losses against Cornell and at Penn State, North Carolina and Monmouth. The Mountain Hawks are led by junior guard Keith Higgins who averages 15.6 ppg and junior guard Tyler Whitney-Sidney who attended Brooks School. Whitney-Sidney is second on the team in scoring at 14.0 ppg and is the only other Mountain Hawk to average double figures. Lehigh shoots a lot of 3-pointers and their best player is Higgins. If the Friars are able to continue their strong defensive effort they should control the game.
Final Thoughts: Overall, Providence holds a statistical edge in several key areas, particularly in defense and controlling the game’s pace. Lehigh’s challenge will be to leverage their three-point shooting effectively and find ways to penetrate Providence’s formidable defense.
Score Prediction: 78-59
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