The Sacred Heart University men's basketball team opened the 2019-20 campaign with a 106-60 loss at Big East member Providence College, Tuesday night at the Dunkin' Donuts Center. The Pioneers fall to 0-1 on the year, while the Friars improve to 1-0.

Jare'l Spellman blocked two shots, giving him 98 for his career, and tying the Pioneers Division I career mark in that category.

Providence had seven players reach double-figures on the night, shooting 51.3 percent from the field. The Friars were also 16-34 from behind the arc. SHU had three players reach double-figures, led by the 20 points of E.J. Anosike.

The Pioneers return to action on Friday when they travel to UConn. The game will be played at Gampel Pavilion at 7:00 pm and air on SNY.

Turning Point

• Providence broke open a 9-7 game with a 29-5 run over 7:55 in the middle of the first-half, including 16-straight to cap it, to open a 38-12 advantage
• The Friars hit on 10-14 over the first 8:26 of play and shot 10-20 from behind the arc in the opening period

Pioneer Notes

• Aaron Clarke scored a dozen for the Pioneers, hitting 3-6 from behind the arc
• Anosike scored in double figures for the 29^th time as a Pioneer and reached 20 for the fifth time
• LaRose reached double figures for the 23^rd time with his 11 points
• Cameron Parker handed out five assists, to go along with five points and four boards
• Spellman scored seven, with eight rebounds

First Half

• Providence opened the game with four straight points and built a 7-2 advantage
• Ozier beat the shot clock with a three from the far win at 16:23 to bring SHU to within 9-7
• PC scored nine of the next 11, capped by a three from Emmitt Holt to push the advantage to 18-9
• Cam Parker put a temporary stop to the run, making the deficit seven, at the first media timeout, 18-11
• Anosike made a free throw with 12:21 to play in the half that made the score 22-12
• The lead reached as many as 27, 42-15, on a pair of Holt free throws with 6:36 to play in the first-half
• Kinnon LaRose scored five straight points, with a three-pointer and a backdoor layup from a Parker pass, to make the score 40-22, with 4:34 to play before intermission
• After a Spellman free throw made the score 44-21, Providence answered with consecutive three pointers to push its lead to 50-21 with 3:42 to play in the half
• LaRose and Aaron Clarke sandwiched three pointers around a PC jumper for a 6-2 Pioneer run
• The final five points, 3-2 in favor of the Pioneers, of the half came at free throw line, and Providence took a 59-30 lead into the intermission

Second Half

• Anosike scored on the Pioneers first possession of the second-half and the Pioneers first eight points of the half
• The Friars continued their hot shooting, hitting 6-10 to open the half and used an 11-0 run over a 93 second stretch to open a 79-37 lead
• Parker snapped the scoreless drought with a conventional three-point play at the 12:30 mark

 By The Numbers

• Providence opened 15-24 from the floor (62.5 percent) and hit 7-11 from behind the arc to open
• SHU finished with a 14-11 edge in second chance points, finishing with 14 offensive rebounds
• The Friars held a 43-24 edge in the paint, where both teams shot 40 percent for the game
• Alpha Diallo led all players with 19 points and 14 rebounds
• David Duke had eight assists, against zero turnovers, for the Friars
• Providence had 31 assists on 39 made field goals