The Sports Xchange
Nov 10, 2017

Senior point guard Kyron Cartwright had 10 points and 10 assists, fueling a balanced offensive attack in Providence's 84-55 opening win over Houston Baptist on Friday night in a 2K Classic game at Alumni Hall in Providence, R.I.

Maliek White came off the bench to score a team-high 13 points for the Friars. Isaiah Jackson finished with 11 points, and Kalif Young added 10 points for Providence, which shot 50 percent from the field and knocked down eight 3-pointers in a rout of the Huskies from the Southland Conference.

Houston Baptist's David Caraher connected on a 3-pointer that trimmed Providence's lead to 19-15 with 8:31 left in the first half. But the Friars closed out the half with a 23-8 run, featuring dunks by Young and Dajour Dickens, and went into halftime with a commanding 42-23 lead.

Caraher had a game-high 19 points for the Huskies, who shot just 31.7 percent from the field and hurt themselves with 18 turnovers.

Providence was never challenged in the second half and cruised to the opening win.

The Friars take a step up in competition next week when they face No. 15 Minnesota before heading to Madison Square Garden for the championship rounds of the 2K Classic, which benefits the Wounded Warrior Project.

Providence will face Washington in a one semifinal on Nov. 16.

Houston Baptist will try to bounce back when its hosts Arlington Baptist on Tuesday.