PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College men's basketball team defeated Merrimack College by a score of 97-74 in a historic exhibition game on Saturday, October 31 at Alumni Hall in Providence, R.I.

The game marked the Friars' first contest in Alumni Hall since PC faced the Russian National Team in an exhibition matchup on January 22, 1978.

Junior guard/forward Marshon Brooks (Stone Mountain, Ga.) led the Friars with a game-high 33 points on 14-of-24 shooting and added eight rebounds to fuel the PC victory.

"Coach [Keno Davis] told me to be aggressive because we're such a young team," Brooks said. "He put me in a position where I could get isolation, get to the rim and score.

The Friars jumped out to a 12-3 lead behind a strong pressure defense that forced four early turnovers in a 9-0 run for PC. A 3-pointer by Craig Woehnker pulled Merrimack within four at 14-10 and the Warriors moved within three at 17-14 at the 11:19 mark of the first half. With 9:20 to play in the half, a slick no-look pass from freshman Vincent Council (Brooklyn, N.Y.) led to a dunk by freshman forward/center Bilal Dixon (Jersey City, N.J.) and a 3-pointer from senior guard Brian McKenzie (Brooklyn, N.Y.) followed to push the Friar lead to 10 at 29-19.

A 3-point play by senior guard Sharaud Curry (Gainesville, Ga.) moved PC ahead 38-23 but Merrimack responded with an 8-0 run to pull back within seven at 38-31 with 4:17 left in the half. A strong finish by junior forward Russ Permenter (Temple, Texas) built the PC lead back to 11 at 43-32 and the Friars took a 48-39 lead into halftime.

The teams played a foul-plagued first half, with 33 personal fouls committed. Merrimack took 27 free throws to the Friars 15 but made only nine first-half field goals. Brooks led PC with 17 first-half points.

Two lay-ins on consecutive possessions by Curry extended the Friar lead to 14 at 57-43 early in the second half and a trey by Brooks gave PC a 62-46 advantage with with 14:46 remaining in the game. A Brooks lay-in off a good pass from freshman Johnnie Lacy (Milwaukee, Wis.) gave the Friars a 20-point lead at 81-61 and Providence took its biggest lead of the game at 95-68 with 2:14 left in the second half.

The Friars dominated the glass in the game, out-rebounding the Warriors by a sizable advantage, 68-to-40. Providence moved the ball well, dishing out 23 assists on 38 field goals.

In addition to Brooks solid offensive game, Dixon posted a double-double for the Friars with 16 points and 15 rebounds and chipped in five blocks. Curry added 15 points and six assists for the Friars.

Providence wraps up its exhibition season on Saturday, November 7 against Stonehill College at 7:00 p.m. at the Dunkin' Donuts Center. The team opens the regular season on Friday, November 13 at 7:30 p.m. against Bryant as part of the World Vision Invitational, also held at the Dunk'. Tickets for all Friar home games can be purchased online at friars.com or by calling (401) 865-GOPC.