Providence 81, Bryant 49: Kadeem Batts scored 23 of his 27 points in the first half to help a depleted Friars club top the Bulldogs in an intrastate matchup.

Batts was 10-for-11 from the field and also had seven rebounds and two steals in the first 20 minutes, leading Providence (2-0) to a commanding 47-21 halftime lead. Bryce Cotton added 24 points and 11 rebounds as the Friars, who were without star point guard Vincent Council and had only six scholarship players available, improved to 5-0 all-time against Bryant.

Alex Francis led the way with 13 points for the Bulldogs (0-2), playing only their second game as a full-time Division I member. Bryant made five of its 26 3-point attempts and is only 9-for-55 (16.4 percent) from long range through the first two games of the season.

Batts, who had four field goals in the season-opening win over NJIT, had four in the first six-plus minutes Monday. His three-point play with 13:11 left in the first half began a 14-0 run and the junior scored 10 straight Providence points later in the half, the last two coming on a tip-in that made it 44-19.

Bryant made three straight 3-pointers early in the second half to get within 48-32, but Batts hit a jumper with 13:11 left to end the run. The Bulldogs never got closer than 16 points thereafter.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Bulldogs bench was 2-for-14 from the floor and 0-for-8 from the arc. ... Council is day-to-day with a hamstring injury. ... The Friars next play Massachusetts on Thursday in San Juan, P.R., in the first round of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off.