Providence Passes First Big Test of Season with Win over Wisconsin

The Providence College men’s basketball team defeated Wisconsin, 72-59, in the Gavitt Games on Tuesday, November 14 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, R.I. With the win, the Friars improved to 3-0 overall on the season. Junior Devin Carter (Miami, Fla.) led the way for the Friars scoring 21 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Graduate student Josh Oduro (Gainesville, Va.) shot a perfect 6-6 from the field scoring 13 points. The Friars improved to 3-3 all-time in the Gavitt Games and 5-1 versus Wisconsin.

“Coach Gavitt meant so much to Providence College, BIG EAST basketball and the game of basketball,” Providence College Head Coach Kim English said. “We are super fortunate to be able to play in a game named in his honor. I thought the fans were incredible tonight. Our students have been consistent and I’m really proud of our guys for how hard they played tonight.”

FIRST HALF:

•Bryce Hopkins (Oak Park, Ill.) scored the first basket for the Friars on a driving layup followed by a three-pointer from Jayden Pierre (Elizabeth, N.J.) to give Providence a 5-0 start.

•The Friars held the Badgers scoreless for the first 3:10 minutes holding a 7-5 lead at the first media timeout.

•Coming out of the first media timeout, Hopkins and Carter scored back-to-back three-pointers to force a Wisconsin timeout with 14:10 left in the half. The Friars led 16-7.

•Providence went on an 17-4 run over a six-minute span and gained a double-digit lead of 15 with about 10 minutes left, 24-9.

•Pierre powered the Friars’ offense in the first half, starting 4-4 from the field and 3-3 from the three-point line. He was the first player with double figures in the game.

•The Friars led 30-15 at the final media timeout of the half.

•Providence held a 16-point advantage, 37-21, heading into the locker room.

•Providence shot 12-19 (63.2 %) from the field, 6-10 (60.0 %) from three and 7-14 (50.0 %) from the free throw line.

•Wisconsin shot 8-32 (25.0 %) from the field, 1-11 (9.1 %) from three and 4-4 (100 %) from the free throw line.

SECOND HALF:

• Pierre continued his shooting streak and scored the first basket of the half with a fade away jumper.

•At the 16:31 mark, Providence forced a Wisconsin timeout after getting hot offensively and going on a 6-0 run. The Friars led by 22, 45-23.

•The Friars held a 51-33 lead at the under 12-minute media timeout.

•At the 10:51 mark, Oduro continued his hot shooting steak scoring his 10th point and shooting a perfect 6-6 from the field.

•The Friars continued to soar offensively enduring a two minute 10-0 run to extend their lead to 25 with six minutes remaining.

•Providence led 71-46 at the final media timeout.

NOTES/HIGHLIGHTS:

•Providence finished 24-41 (58.5 %) from the field, 8-18 (44.4 %) from three and 16-27 (59.3 %) from the free throw line.

•Wisconsin finished 21-62 (33.9 %) from the field, 5-20 (25.0 %) from three and 12-12 (100.0 %) from the free throw line.

•Providence never trailed through the duration of the game.

•Four players finished in double figures for the Friars in, Josh Oduro (13), Bryce Hopkins (16), Jayden Pierre (13) and Devin Carter (21).

•Carter recorded his sixth game of his career with 20 or more points.

•Carter hauled a team-high eight boards for the Friars.

• The Friars pulled down 33 boards to the Badgers’ 30 rebounds.

•The Friars improved to 3-3 in the Gavitt Games with tonight’s win.

•Providence improved to 39-3 at the AMP in their last 42 games and 621-238 all-time.

•The Friars improved to 89-5 in non-conference home games over the last 13 seasons, including a 22-game unbeaten streak since 2019.

•The Friars begin the season with 3-0 record for the third consecutive season.

•Attendance – 12,069

WHAT’S NEXT:

•The Friars will travel to Nassau, Bahamas to play Kansas State in the 2023 Baha Mar Hoops Championship on Friday, November 17. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.

•This marks the first meeting between the Wildcats since March 12, 1977 where the Friars lost 87-80 in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament.