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Providence, Rhode Island: Friars Open 100th Season With 83-56 Rout of Maine

Jacob Bannarbie scored 14 points with 10 rebounds on perfect shooting, Miles Byrd matched his career high with seven steals, and Providence beat Maine 83-56 in Bryan Hodgson's debut on Monday night.

By Orbit Post2 min read
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Providence, Rhode Island: Friars Open 100th Season With 83-56 Rout of Maine

Key points

  • Providence opened the 100th season of men's basketball at the school with the kind of defensive game its fans had waited to see.
  • The Providence Journal reported that Providence trailed for a total of 77 seconds all night.
  • Providence led 34-26 at halftime after Maine had stayed within 18-15 midway through the first half.

Providence opened the 100th season of men's basketball at the school with the kind of defensive game its fans had waited to see. The Friars beat Maine 83-56 on Monday night at Amica Mutual Pavilion, in Bryan Hodgson's first game as head coach.

Defense set the tone

The Providence Journal reported that Providence trailed for a total of 77 seconds all night. Miles Byrd led the defense with seven steals, matching his career high and reaching a mark no Friar had posted in a decade. Maine turned the ball over 23 times, and Providence turned those mistakes into 29 points. The Friars held a 21-3 edge in fast break points and a 42-10 advantage in points in the paint.

Providence led 34-26 at halftime after Maine had stayed within 18-15 midway through the first half. The Friars opened the second half with 13 straight points and outscored the Black Bears 49-30 over the final 20 minutes. A Javon Bardwell dunk in transition pushed the lead to 79-46 with 4:18 left, and the announced crowd of 11,685 saw the rout out.

Bannarbie leads five in double figures

Jacob Bannarbie scored a game high 14 points and grabbed a game high 10 rebounds, his second career double double. He was perfect from the floor, making all seven of his shots, and several of his baskets came off Byrd steals in the second half run. Ryan Mela added 13 points and six rebounds. Malik Mack and Javon Bardwell scored 12 points each, and Byrd finished with 10 points to go with his seven steals. Five Friars reached double figures.

Maine, a member of the America East Conference, got 13 points from Hudson Franz, 11 from Ayden Evans and 10 from Killian Gribben. The Black Bears shot 15 of 43 from the field, 34.9 percent, and 8 of 23 from three point range. Providence shot 31 of 68, 45.6 percent, and 10 of 30 from three.

A new era starts 1-0

The win gives Hodgson a victory in his debut and starts the program's centennial season at 1-0. Providence College Athletics listed the result in its men's basketball archives as an 83-56 season opening win over Maine. The Friars' early schedule brings a Hall of Fame Tip-Off test against Nebraska in Connecticut on November 7, a step up from an opener that was decided by halftime of the second half.

Timeline

  1. Nov 2, 2026Providence leads Maine 34-26 at halftime at Amica Mutual Pavilion after trailing for only 77 seconds in the first half.
  2. Nov 2, 2026The Friars open the second half with 13 straight points and outscore Maine 49-30 after halftime.
  3. Nov 2, 2026Providence wins 83-56 in Bryan Hodgson's first game as head coach, opening the 100th season of men's basketball at the school.

Sources