Providence looks to bank another Big East win before heading out on a two-game road trip when it hosts DePaul on Saturday night.
The Friars (16-9, 7-7 Big East) have won two of their past games, including a 75-72 triumph over St. John’s on Tuesday in which Josh Oduro scored 28 points and Devin Carter logged a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double.
“It’s basically March right now with what we’re trying to do, what we’re trying to accomplish, what we’re playing for, the teams we’re playing against,” Providence coach Kim English said. “All these teams are difficult.”
Oduro scored 26 of his points as Providence shot 53.9 percent from the field in the second half against the Red Storm. Four players finished in double figures in the game as Davonte Gaines added 11 points and Rich Barron 10.
Carter has recorded eight double-doubles and leads the Friars with 18.8 points per game this season.
The Blue Demons (3-21, 0-13) are still looking for their first conference win and would break a season-long road drought (0-7) with a win in Providence. They are winless overall since a Dec. 30 victory against Chicago State.
“You have to play at a really high level to be in the game with (UConn),” DePaul interim coach Matt Brady said after the 101-65 loss to the No. 1 Huskies on Wednesday. “We just made some mistakes, really, in both halves. … This group has not gotten better at transition defense and we have guys that don’t understand the value of blocking out at this level.”
Jaden Henley scored a team-high 15 points in the loss. It was his ninth game scoring in double figures this season.
Jalen Terry posted 10 assists along with seven points and five rebounds. He has hit a 3-pointer in 13 straight games.
Providence has won five consecutive head-to-head meetings in the series and hit the 100-point mark when the teams met Jan. 17 in Chicago.
Carter scored a game-high 25 in the Friars’ 100-62 win.
–Field Level Media