PC Wraps Up Non-Conference Play With Win Over Sacred Heart
Providence College Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Providence College men’s basketball team defeated Sacred Heart University (4-8), 78-64, on Saturday, Dec. 16 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, R.I. It was Friars’ final non-conference game of the regular season. Junior Bryce Hopkins spearheaded the Friar offense with 26 points and 12 rebounds – it marked his fourth double-double of the season. Freshman Rich Barron (Chicago, Ill.) had a strong game off the bench, scoring a career-high 14 points on a 4-6 effort from three-point territory. Despite two Friars being out of the lineup with injuries (Devin Carter and Corey Floyd), Providence was able to outscore Sacred Heart, 47-34 in the second half, and 34-32 in the paint, 12-6 off second-chance baskets, 9-5 on fast breaks, and 15-14 in points off the bench. With the win, the Friars improved to 9-2 on the season.
“We faced some adversity even before the game and we overcame it.” Head Coach Kim English said. “I give Sacred Heart a ton of credit as they played with a great intensity and effort. I thought we did a good job for the most part in the non-league part of our schedule respecting our opponent and playing up to our standards.”
FIRST HALF:
•Graduate Student Josh Oduro (Gainesville, Pa.) opened the Friars’ scoring with a turnaround jumper in the paint. At the first media timeout (15:29 mark), Providence trailed, 8-5.
•At the 14:59 minute mark, Rich Barron (Chicago, Ill.) drained a field goal to beat the shot clock and get Providence within one point, 8-7. With 13:47 on the clock, Barron followed with a three-pointer to give the Friars their first lead of the game, 10-8.
•Sacred Heart tied the game, 13-13, entering the under-12 media timeout (11:43 mark).
• The Friars endured a 3:18 scoring drought late in the second half. Bryce Hopkins (Oak Park, Ill.) sunk two free throws to snap the streak and even the score, 19-19, with 6:04 left to play.
• The Friars led by one at halftime, 31-30.
• With 14 points, Hopkins was the lone Friar to enter double-digit scoring in the first half.
• The game was a back-and-forth match in the first half with five lead changes, and seven ties.
•Providence shot 12-30 (40.0%) from the field, 3-12(25.0%) from three and 4-6 (66.7%) from the free throw line.
•Sacred Heart shot 13-25 (52.0%) from the field, 1-5 (20.0%) from three and 3-5 (60%) from the free throw line.
SECOND HALF:
• Ticket Gaines (Buffalo, N.Y.) opened the half by scoring a fast-break layup off a steal. Friars led, 33-30.
• At the first media timeout of the second half (15:50 mark), PC trailed, 38-37.
• With 14:50 on the clock, Barron flushed his third three of the night to give the Friars the largest lead of the game, 43-38.
• Providence kept the lead entering the under-12 media timeout (11:53 mark), 50-44.
•While the Pioneers endured a 2:01 scoring drought, the Friars went on a 6-0 scoring run over a 1:30 minute span to extend the lead to eight. At the under-eight media timeout (7:50 mark), Friars led, 59-51.
• With 3:24 left to play, Hopkins grabbed his 10th rebound to record his fourth double-double of the season.
• The lead remained out of reach for the Pioneers for the remainder of the half. Jayden Pierre sunk a three-pointer to close the scoring for the Friars with 0:23 left on the clock. The Friars won, 78-64.
NOTES/HIGHLIGHTS:
• Barron shot 4-6 from three and 5–7 from the paint for a career-high 14 points.
•Providence finished 30-58 (51.7%) from the field, 10-28 (35.7%) from three and 8-12 (66.7%) from the free throw line.
•Sacred Heart finished 24-52 (46.2%) from the field, 2-14 (14.3%) from three and 14-20 (70.0%) from the free throw line.
•Four players finished in double figures for the Friars in Barron (14), Hopkins (26), Oduro (14), and Gaines (11).
•Nico Galette led the way for the Pioneers with 20 points and six rebounds.
•The Friars outrebounded the Pioneers by a margin of 35-24.
•The Friars are 44-3 in their last 48 games at the AMP and 626-238 all-time.
• Providence improved to an 8-0 all-time series record versus Sacred Heart.
•PC is 104-5 in non-conference home games over the last 14 seasons, including a 27-game unbeaten streak since 2019.
•Attendance – 8,813
WHAT’S NEXT:
•The Friars will host nationally ranked Marquette University to open BIG EAST play on Tuesday, December 19 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, R.I. Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. on FS1.
•Marquette holds a 22-14 edge in the all-time series with Providence. The Friars are 9-6 at home versus Marquette. In the 2022-23 season, the two teams split their season series, 1-1. The last time the Providence hosted Marquette was on Dec. 20, 2022 where the Friars defeated the then No. 24/25 Marquette Golden Eagles, 103-98, in double overtime the team’s BIG EAST home opener.
