Bensley Joseph went 7-for-9 from beyond the arc en route to a career-high 28 points, leading host Providence to a 91-85 win over Seton Hall on Saturday.
Three of Joseph’s career-best 3-pointer total came in a span of 2:24 late in the second half. Those makes from deep highlighted a 17-6 outburst that allowed the Friars (9-8, 3-3 Big East) to turn a 62-60 deficit into a 77-68 advantage.
From there, Providence never let its lead dip below six.
Joseph also had five assists as the Friars earned their second straight victory following a four-game skid. Corey Floyd Jr. chipped in 14 points, Oswin Erhunmwunse chipped in 12 and Jayden Pierre netted 10. Erhunmwunse also grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked five shots.
Isaiah Coleman finished with a career-high 26 points on 10-of-19 shooting for the Pirates (6-10, 1-4), who have lost six of their past seven games. Prince Aligbe netted 19 points, and Chaunce Jenkins supplied 17. Aligbe recorded seven boards and Jenkins had six, but Jenkins’ night was cut short due to fouling out.
Providence outshot the visitors 53.8 percent to 44.9 percent from the field.
The Friars started to seemingly run away with the game thanks in part to Eli DeLaurier, who canned a pair of treys during a 10-3 run that gave Providence a 60-52 lead with 12:02 left in the contest.
However, the Pirates proceeded to rattle off 10 straight points, pulling ahead 62-60 on a runner in the lane from Coleman with 9:40 to go. Joseph and the Friars were in control for the rest of the game.
Neither team led by more than five in a closely contested first half in which Jenkins racked up all 17 of his points for Seton Hall.
Jabri Abdur-Rahim knocked down a 3-pointer with 2:30 remaining in the opening period to put Providence up 41-36, but Jenkins answered with a triple of his own and a pair of free throws to send the teams into the break tied at 41.
–Field Level Media
