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While first-year Providence coach Kim English liked what he saw from his defense during his team’s season-opening victory against Columbia on Monday, he wants the Friars to take better care of the basketball when they play visiting Milwaukee on Saturday night.

Providence (1-0) held Columbia to 29.6 percent shooting from the field (21 of 71) in the 78-59 victory, but the Friars also committed 18 turnovers.

“I thought we could have played a lot faster — and smarter,” English said. “There were some ill-advised turnovers.”

Bryce Hopkins led Providence with 14 points and 10 rebounds, but he lost five turnovers. Devin Carter and Rafael Castro each added 13 points, and Ticket Gaines finished with 12 points and seven boards.

Prized recruit Garwey Dual was limited to five minutes of playing time in his college debut because of an ankle injury. He left the game and went to the locker room with 11:55 remaining in the first half. Dual watched the second half from the bench.

Milwaukee (1-0) is coming off a season-opening 91-73 win against Division III Wisconsin-Stout on Monday.

Angelo Stuart scored a team-high 18 points for the Panthers, who received 16 points and 12 rebounds from Kentrell Pullian. Stuart made 4 of 7 shots from 3-point range, while Pullian had 10 points and 10 rebounds in the second half.

“I told them in the locker room that we had some really good individual efforts — especially in the second half — but to think that that’s the type of performance that is going to win us many games is not accurate,” Milwaukee coach Bart Lundy said. “We have to play a lot less disjointed and a lot harder defensively. I didn’t want them to leave the locker room feeling like we have accomplished anything.”

Saturday’s game will be the first meeting between the programs. Providence is 7-0 all-time in games against Horizon League teams.

–Field Level Media