Pierre scores 19 to lead Providence past Villanova 75-62

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — In a strong performance, Jayden Pierre contributed 19 points to lead the Providence Friars to a 75-62 win over the Villanova Wildcats on Saturday evening.

Pierre’s shooting stats included 6 of 14 from the field, with a notable 5 of 9 from beyond the arc, and he added 2 of 5 from the free-throw line. His efforts were complemented by Bensley Joseph, who scored 17 points while connecting on 5 of 9 shots, including 2 of 6 from three-point territory, and hitting 5 of 6 from the charity stripe. Joseph also recorded six rebounds and six assists.

Ryan Mela added further support to the Friars’ offense with 12 points, shooting 3 of 5 from the floor and 5 of 8 from the free-throw line, while also contributing nine rebounds, six assists, and three steals.

For the Wildcats, Wooga Poplar emerged as the top scorer with 18 points, in addition to grabbing nine rebounds and making two steals. Jordan Longino matched Poplar’s contribution with 18 points, while Eric Dixon added 15 points and nine rebounds to the mix.

Providence established an early lead that they maintained throughout the game, going ahead with 19:40 left in the first half and heading into halftime with a 36-24 advantage. Pierre highlighted the first half with 11 points, and in the second half, Providence unleashed a 10-0 scoring run which grew their lead from 12 to 22 points. Villanova was slightly outscored by Providence in the second half, with Mela contributing a team-high nine points during that period.

Looking ahead, Providence is scheduled to face Georgetown on Wednesday, while Villanova will take on UConn on Tuesday.