<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1O4Bd7_1GyYkcxG00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1O4Bd7_1GyYkcxG00" width="673" height="1280" ></figure>Devin Vanterpool (21 points) led the Friars past the Bulldogs, 78-55PROVIDENCE – Slowed by a rash of injuries and still smarting from a loss to Nebraska, the Providence Friars were looking for a spark to find their groove Tuesday night. They found that spark from a pressing defense, freshman Clyde Walters and Devin Vanterpool’s first look at the Amica Mutual Pavilion.Leading by just 20-18 with six minutes left in the first half, Providence cranked up its defense, extending pressure to full court, and entered halftime with a 38-25 lead. Bryant owned one solid push in the second half but PC was never seriously threatened on the way to a 78-55 win.PC (2-1) used its pressure to force 17 of Bryant’s 25 turnovers in the first half. Walters led that first half push, as did Miles Byrd and Vanterpool. Those three players accounted for 11 of PC’s 19 steals, the most for the team since 2009.“We wanted to speed the game up tonight but honestly today wasn’t necessarily ideal because of limited bodies. I thought it gassed us a little bit. It was necessary to kind of jump-start us,” Hodgson said.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">Hodgson: Have the press in our bag but ‘not ideal because we had limited bodies tonight.’ <a href="https://t.co/hLD8oSmG6t">pic.twitter.com/hLD8oSmG6t</a>— Kevin McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33) <a href="https://x.com/KevinMcNamara33/status/2120353798568689798?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2026</a><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote>The Friars played without starters Ryan Mela (shin splints) and Arrinten Page (leg injury). Backup big man Samson Aletan (temperature) was also held out.Hodgson was not happy with his team’s offense for most of the game, specifically because “we have a turnover problem right now.” The Friars racked up 16 turnovers as Hodgson said the team is still adjusting to playing at the uptempo pace he’s pushing on a daily basis.“It’s great to come out with a win but as a coach I’m not satisfied, we have a long, long way to go in a lot of different areas,” Hodgson said. “We have a turnover problem right now that we have to get fixed. We’re loose with the basketball. We get stagnant offensively, it happens way too much. Got to get much better offensively. That’s on me and the staff to put ourselves in better positions and play to our player’s strengths.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">Clyde with the steal, Malik with the smooth finish😎 <a href="https://t.co/DqtCdwsJqN">pic.twitter.com/DqtCdwsJqN</a>— Providence MBB (@PCFriarsmbb) <a href="https://x.com/PCFriarsmbb/status/2120327591433556363?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2026</a><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote>Hodgson emphasized that the team’s uptempo style that he’s pushing hasn’t set in totally. He pointed out that his teams have traditionally been slow starters as the players adjust to everything the staff is coaching. In his two seasons at Arkansas State and one at South Florida the coach has seen his teams start a combined 11-13 over the opening eight games.“My teams, and you may not want to hear this, this time of the year has been rocky sometimes in year one,” he said. “We play so fast. We’re asking these guys to play at a pace they’ve never played at before. I’m asking them to play at a speed they’re still not used to. I thought we were closer than we were. It’s getting exposed a bit right now.”While short a few bodies, Hodgson insisted “that’s not an excuse, we had plenty of talent over there to win this game the way we needed to win it.”That said, it is clear Hodgson is still working through his deep roster to formulate a solid core and rotation. Without Mela, it was good to see Vanterpool step up as an offensive star in his first home game. He made 8 of his 17 shots and hit three 3-pointers while also grabbing four steals. He still is nursing some pain from an ankle sprain that has him “at about 80 percent” according to Hodgson. “I wouldn’t call it settling in because I’ve been at the games and taking in the stuff we need to get better at. I’m just paying attention to that and seeing where I could fit in,” Vanterpool said.Malik Mack’s 19 points came in various ways, both on the fastbreak and via three 3-point shots. He had just one turnover, while fellow guard Gavin Hightower and Miles Byrd had four apiece. The Friars need to continue to come together with a matchup against Colorado of the Big 12. The Buffaloes won a 97-88 shootout over the Friars last season but return few key pieces from a 17-16 team. Coach Tad Boyle’s team is off to a 2-1 start with wins over Abilene Christian and San Diego and a loss at San Diego State.</div></body>

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PROVIDENCE – Slowed by a rash of injuries and still smarting from a loss to Nebraska, the Providence Friars were looking for a spark to find their groove Tuesday night. They found that spark from a pressing defense, freshman Clyde Walters and Devin Vanterpool’s first look at the Amica Mutual Pavilion.

Friars shake off doldrums, run past Bryant

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PROVIDENCE – Slowed by a rash of injuries and still smarting from a loss to Nebraska, the Providence Friars were looking for a spark to find their groove T

Friars shake off doldrums, run past Bryant

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