PC Beats URI on Explosive Second Half by Hopkins

Sunday, December 03, 2023

Jim Malachowski, Sports Columnist

 

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Devin Carter with a double- double PHOTO: GoLocal

Providence College men’s basketball ultimately won the rivalry game 84 to 69 victory over the University of Rhode Island — a game that was surprisingly close for more than 30 minutes.

The Rams tied the game 38-38 at the 17:44 mark in the second half. The game remained close until the Friar and Bryce Hopkins took over midway through the second half. He had 19 points in the second half -- finishing with a game-high 24 points.

The Friars are now 7-1 and URI falls to 5-3.

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After the game, URI head coach Archie Miller said, “They wore us down in the last eight minutes of the game.”

The sellout crowd, overwhelmingly pro-Providence crowd, seemed somewhat stunned by the closeness of the game. The URI players handled the environment reasonably well: the crowd, the dance cams, and the Taylor Swift songs.

PC was ahead 10-7 at the media timeout with 15:28 remaining in the half. From there, the Friars slowly built their lead as URI took a few forced shots, had a few shots blocked, and missed a couple of open shots.

"This game is great for both programs and we are proud to now be part of the history of this great rivalry in the 133rd game," Friars head coach Kim English said. "We told our guys coming into this week that the only thing that matters is the W column at the end of the night. It was another big game; it was hard fought and physical. I thought the collective spirit of our group was positive."  

The arena’s noise and the players’ intensity increased in the second half. When URI tied the score at 38 to 38, it got louder still. Hopkins and Devin Carter then started to take over the game. URI’s intensity continued, and they played good interior defense against Hopkins at times. With 10:10 remaining after a Zek Montgomery three-point shot, URI was down only 4 at 54-50. However, the relentless Friar attack wore down the Rams. They began to look tired, and you can’t lose a step to this multi-faceted PC team. 

The Friars outscored URI 30 to19 the rest of the way and turned a tight game into a runaway. 

Jaden House led the Rams with 18 points. URI’s David Fuchs and Luis Kortright each had 11. The Rams shot 50% in the second half and 45% overall. They took care of the ball, committing 11 turnovers, but shot poorly again from the foul line, going 7 for 15 for 46%.

PC's Carter recorded a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.  

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PC Fan PHOTO: GoLocal

HIGHLIGHTS:  

• Providence finished 32-65 (49.2 %) from the field, 8-20 (40.0 %) from three and 12-16 (75.0 %) from the free throw line.   

• Rhode Island finished 28-62 (45.2 %) from the field, 6-12 (50.0 %) from three and 7-15 (46.7 %) from the free throw line.    

• Five players finished in double figures for the Friars in, Bryce Hopkins (24), Devin Carter (17), Josh Oduro (10), Ticket Gaines (10) and Jayden Pierre (12).  

• Jayden Pierre returned to the lineup after missing three games with a leg injury. 

• Jaden House led the way for the Rams, scoring 18 points.  

• The Friars have played Rhode Island more than any other opponent all-time (133 times). 

• Providence is 92-5 in non-conference home games over the last 13 seasons, including a 25-game unbeaten streak since 2019.  

• The Friars are 42-3 in their last 44 games at the AMP and 624-238 all-time.  

•Attendance – 12,513 

NEXT for PC:  

•The Friars will travel to Norman, Okla. to face the nationally ranked University of Oklahoma Sooners on Tuesday, Dec. 5 in the BIG EAST-BIG 12 battle. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPNU.  

• It will mark the first meeting with the Sooners since March 20, 1991, where the Friars lost 83-74 in the NIT.  

NEXT for URI: 

Brown University comes to the Ryan /Center on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, for a 7:00 PM game against the Rams.

James Malachowski is the former Chairman/Managing Partner at RDW Group. He previously served as the chair of the Public Utilities Commission. He is a graduate of URI and PC.

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