Rutgers University
Providence
Rutgers Falls at Providence 78-63
Jan 20 | Men's Basketball
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Rutgers University men's basketball team (8-11, 1-5 BIG EAST) dropped its fourth straight conference game, a 78-63 decision to Providence College (13-5, 3-2 BIG EAST) on Saturday night at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.
Senior guard Marquis Webb (Paterson, N.J.) led the Scarlet Knights with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor, including 3-of-5 from three-point range. Sophomore Anthony Farmer (Millville, N.J.), RU's other double-digit scorer, poured in 16 points, also on a 6-of-9 performance from the floor. Sophomore forward JR Inman (Pomona, N.Y.), the team's leading scorer, missed double-digits for just the fourth game this season with five points.
Herbert Hill paced the Friars with a game-high 20 points and 13 rebounds. Also scoring in double-figures for Providence was Geoff McDermott, who posted 19 points, while Jonathan Kale and Sharaud Curry each chipped in 13 points.
The Friars got out to a 31-22 first half lead with the help of two separate 12-0 runs. With a 15-point lead (26-11), PC's largest of the first, the Scarlet Knights responded with a pair of baskets from Inman and senior forward Adrian Hill (Canton, Ohio) to make it 28-14. Rutgers eventually closed the advantage to nine points (31-22) before halftime on two consecutive three-pointers from Webb.
The Friars led by as many as 18 points in the second half. Webb cut the deficit to 10 points (67-57) on his third three-pointer with 2:25 left in the game, but that was the closest RU would get as Providence secured the 15-point victory.
"Through the course of the game, I thought we did a good job on their guards," said head coach Fred Hill. "I think we did well in certain stretches of the game and I thought we trapped them effectively at times."
"They were very efficient on offense," Hill added "and there front line is very solid."
Providence scored 46 of its 78 points in the paint and shot 49.2 (29-of-59) percent from the floor for the game.
The Scarlet Knights will close out their two-game road trip on Tuesday, Jan. 24, at USF in Tampa Bay, Fla.
