Providence Friars @ Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Providence 76, Rutgers 72
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Guard Bryce Cotton scored 22 points, including two foul shots with 5 seconds left, and forward LaDontae Henton dropped in 18 points as Providence won its fifth Big East game of the month, 76-72, over Rutgers on Saturday night.
Kadeem Batts added 14 points and Vincent Council had 12 to give Providence (15-12, 7-8) four players in double figures. Providence is 5-1 in six February Big East games, with its only loss coming against No. 8 Syracuse last Wednesday.
Dane Miller came off the bench to lead Rutgers (13-13, 4-10) with 17 points and reserve Kadeem Jack was the second-leading scorer for the Scarlet Knights with a career-high 15 points.
Jack's free throw had cut the Rutgers deficit to 64-60 with 4:17 left to play, but Cotton helped seal it for the Friars with a two-handed dunk off a fast break and then converted a reverse layup after hauling in a Kris Dunn pass on a dash down the court. The second basket made it 68-61 with 3 minutes to go.
Rutgers, which led by as many as 11 points in the first half, held a 33-23 advantage with 4:41 left before the break. But Providence, sparked by Cotton, scored 19 straight points over the final 4:16 to take a 42-33 lead at intermission.
Cotton ignited the run with a pull-up jumper and capped the spree by completing a four-point play on a 3-pointer and foul shot with 41.3 seconds showing. He then nailed a 3-pointer with 2 seconds to go. Council contributed a 3-pointer and a fast-break layup in the Friars' streak.
Providence hit 8 of 20 3-pointers, led by Cotton and Henton with three apiece. The Friars sank 18 of 24 free throws. Rutgers hit 17 of 24 foul shots.
Game Information
Piscataway, NJ
Referee:John Cahill
Referee:Jeffrey Anderson
Referee:Gary Prager
2025-26 Standings
| Big East ConferenceBig East Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. John's | 18-2 | - | 30-7 |
| UConn | 17-3 | 1 | 34-6 |
| Villanova | 15-5 | 3 | 24-9 |
| Seton Hall | 10-10 | 8 | 21-12 |
| Creighton | 9-11 | 9 | 16-18 |
| DePaul | 8-12 | 10 | 16-16 |
| Butler | 7-13 | 11 | 16-16 |
| Providence | 7-13 | 11 | 15-18 |
| Marquette | 7-13 | 11 | 12-20 |
| Georgetown | 6-14 | 12 | 16-18 |
| Xavier | 6-14 | 12 | 15-18 |
| Big Ten ConferenceBig Ten Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 19-1 | - | 37-3 |
| Nebraska | 15-5 | 4 | 28-7 |
| Michigan State | 15-5 | 4 | 27-8 |
| Illinois | 15-5 | 4 | 28-9 |
| Wisconsin | 14-6 | 5 | 24-11 |
| Purdue | 13-7 | 6 | 30-9 |
| UCLA | 13-7 | 6 | 24-12 |
| Ohio State | 12-8 | 7 | 21-13 |
| Iowa | 10-10 | 9 | 24-13 |
| Indiana | 9-11 | 10 | 18-14 |
| Minnesota | 8-12 | 11 | 15-18 |
| USC | 7-13 | 12 | 18-14 |
| Washington | 7-13 | 12 | 16-17 |
| Rutgers | 6-14 | 13 | 14-20 |
| Northwestern | 5-15 | 14 | 15-19 |
| Oregon | 5-15 | 14 | 12-20 |
| Maryland | 4-16 | 15 | 12-21 |
| Penn State | 3-17 | 16 | 12-20 |
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