Providence took control early and never let up, beating Bryant 78-55 on Tuesday night in their first meeting in 11 years. The Friars led by double digits for much of the game, with Devin Vanterpool and Malik Mack each hitting three 3-pointers as Providence shot 48% from the field. Vanterpool finished with 21 points and Mack added 19. Duane Thompson led Bryant with 15 points.
The game, played at Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, had strong fan support from both sides given the proximity of the two programs, just a 20-minute drive apart. It was the first matchup since December 12, 2015, when Providence also won, 74-67. Providence has now won all six meetings between the schools. Both programs have made NCAA Tournaments in the intervening years, with Providence appearing six times and Bryant twice, most recently in 2025.
Bryan Hodgson, Providence’s head coach, acknowledged the extra intensity that comes from facing an in-state rival. “Any game within close proximity like this has some sort of different level of intensity to it,” he said. “When you’re another Division-I basketball program and you’re down the road, you know you feel some type of way towards that other program, right? That’s just human nature.”
Bryant’s coach, Jamion Christian, said the matchup was a "great platform" for both teams and a celebration of Rhode Island basketball. “I think our two programs have the two best records in Rhode Island over the last five years,” he said. Christian expressed appreciation to Providence for agreeing to schedule the game. Bryant, a member of the America East Conference, faces a tough non-conference slate this season, including games against Rutgers, Kentucky, George Mason, Fordham, and Brown.
Christian noted the importance of playing against strong opponents to prepare for conference play and March. “If you want to be a great team and play in March, you can never be scared,” he said. “We want to be able to judge ourselves against the very best teams. That’s the most important thing that we can do. I always want to put our team in that position where we’ve prepared the right way. Win or lose, we’ve prepared.”
Bryant was without Georgia Tech transfer Eric Chatfield Jr., sidelined with a lower-body injury and day-to-day at the moment. Christian expects Chatfield to potentially return for Friday’s game against Rutgers. He believes the Bulldogs will be stronger once fully healthy.
Providence forced 25 turnovers and smothered Bryant’s offense, but the Friars struggled with their own ball control, turning it over 16 times and committing 18 fouls. Hodgson said the team still has some defensive issues to fix, pointing out problems that carried over from their loss at Nebraska on November 7. The Friars fell 67-58 in that Hall of Fame Tip-Off game.
“We get stagnant offensively, it happens way too much,” Hodgson said. “It’s a problem against Nebraska, and Nebraska caused that. And Bryant caused it at times, quite frankly.”
Vanterpool’s health was a focus for Providence after he missed the season opener due to an ankle sprain and was less effective against Nebraska. Hodgson said Vanterpool was still dealing with pain in both those games but looked much better against Bryant. “I expect him to still have some soreness over the next week or two,” Hodgson added.
Clyde Walters, who did not play against Nebraska, came off the bench to contribute nine points and six rebounds in significant minutes. Hodgson praised Walters for his team-first mentality. “I don’t think Clyde enters the game thinking about scoring the basketball,” Hodgson said. “I think he thinks about ‘what can I do to help my team win?’ And as a result he found his way into nine points and won the hard hat.”
Bryant’s Elijah Crispin and Onyx Nnani also had notable moments despite the loss. Christian stressed how games like this against high-profile programs help Bryant gain recognition and prepare for the rigors of conference play and postseason opportunities. “We would have loved to beat Providence,” Christian said. “We need to beat a team like Providence in March, and we need to know what that feels like.”
The next non-conference games for both teams include more Rhode Island rivals, offering further chances to claim state supremacy. Providence’s schedule includes a game against Colorado and a spot in the Maui Invitational before Big East play begins. Bryant’s upcoming matchups will test their growth as they aim for another NCAA Tournament appearance.
According to Yahoo Sports.