Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball at Pitt (Exhibition) on October 19, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.
Men's Basketball
at Pitt (Exhibition)
2:00 p.m.
Providence College Athletics
Wednesday, November 11
New Brunswick, NJ
7:00 PM
Providence College
67
at
72
Rutgers
Men's Basketball Squad Falls to Upstart Rutgers
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
December 11, 1998
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) - Freshman Dahntay Jones scored a career-high 19 points and held Jamel Thomas, the Big East's leading scorer, to 13 points as Rutgers defeated Providence, 72-67, Friday night.
The victory gave Rutgers its first 7-1 start since 1982-83 and its first 2-0 league start since joining the Big East four years ago.
Thomas entered the game with a 24.9 scoring average, but was frustrated into a 5-for-13 shooting night and committed 10 turnovers while being guarded predominantly by Jones.
After Erron Maxey's bucket gave Providence (6-4, 0-2 Big East) a 57-55 lead, Jones hit two foul shots and a short jumper to start Rutgers on a 10-0 run that gave the Knights a 65-57 lead with 2:19 remaining. Maxey's bucket snapped a 4:59 scoreless drought for the Friars and made the score 65-59 with 1:49 left.
Rutgers struggled at the foul line, hitting four of seven in the final 1:09, but Providence could get no closer than 69-65 with 31.5 seconds. left. Rutgers won despite 42 percent shooting and 15 turnovers. Providence committed 20 turnovers while shooting 44 percent.
Geoff Billet had 17 for Rutgers while and Rob Hodgson added 13 and freshman Rashod Kent 11 on 4-for-6 shooting. Kent has made 25 of his last 28 field goal attempts. Providence got 19 from Sean Connolly and 13 from Maxey.
Thomas jumper gave Providence its biggest lead, 40-31, with 18:16 remaining. After a timeout, with three freshmen in the lineup, Kent and Jones combined for 11 points as a 14-3 run gave Rutgers a 45-43 lead with 11:13 remaining. Rutgers opened a 50-45 lead, but eight points by Connolly helped Providence to a 57-55 lead with 6:48.
Thomas' slam to cap a fast break snapped the fifth tie of the first half and gave the Friars a 19-17 lead with 8:36 left. Holding a 24-22 edge, Providence used an 11-7 run over the final 3:55 for a 35-29 lead at intermission.
Rutgers shot just 40 percent in the half and was outrebounded, 20-15. Thomas struggled through a 2-for-5 shooting half and committed five turnovers.
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