[VIDEO] Friars Snap Streak, Beat URI in Kingston

KINGSTON – For the first time since the Ryan Center opened, the match-up between the University of Rhode Island Rams and the Providence College Friars resulted in a victory for the visitor.

Using a dominant rebounding and defensive effort in the second half, the Friars ran away with the game, 80-61. Providence (11-2) outrebounded the Rams 50 to 33, and limited URI to 30.3 percent from the field, and 3-for-20 from 3-point range.

Providence College guard Bryce Cotton led all scorers with 19 points, and also had two dagger shots for the Friars in the second half.

With the Friars up 43-40, a missed jumper by Orion Outerbridge led to a fastbreak opportunity for PC. Cotton spotted up for a wide-open 3 and nailed it, off a pass from Vincent Council. About 50 seconds later, with 14:22 left, Cotton was left open again and drilled another 3, giving the Friars a nine-point lead.

Council finished with 15 points and six assists for PC. Gerald Coleman played 39 minutes, and although he had six turnovers, shot an efficient 8-for-12 and finished with 16 points. Brice Kofane came off the bench and had eight points and 10 rebounds.

URI (1-11) got within five at 13:38, but never got closer the rest of the night. Providence led by as much as 22 points in the second half, as the Friars managed to extend the lead with URI’s Jonathan Holton out of the game.

Holton was one of the few Rams to show much of a pulse against the Friars. He was in foul trouble for much of the game though and fouled out with 2:48 remaining, only playing 26 minutes. Holton finished with 15 points on 5-for-10 shooting, and a team-high six rebounds.

However, the rest of the Rams slept walked through either the second half or the whole game. Jamal Wilson, in his first game back from a suspension, came off the bench and shot 1-for-12. He missed five 3-point shots.

Transfers Billy Baron and Andre Malone combined for 1-for-14 shooting and seven personal fouls. Baron had a marginally better game, dishing out four assists coming off the bench.