Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus Creighton on January 16, 2026 , Win , 93, to, 88
Men's Basketball
vs Creighton
Final
93
-
88
Providence College Athletics
Friday, January 30
Villanova, Pa.
7:00 p.m.
Providence College
9-13,2-9Big East
73
at
87
Villanova
16-5,7-3Big East
1
2
F
Providence
28
45
73
Villanova
45
42
87
Men’s Basketball Defeated At Villanova, 87-73
1/30/2026 9:23:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Stefan Vaaks leads the Friars with 25 points.
VILLANOVA, PA. - The Providence College men's basketball team was defeated by the Villanova University Wildcats (16-5, 7-3 BIG EAST), 87-73, on Friday, Jan. 30 at Finneran Pavilion in Villanova, Pa. With the loss, Providence falls to 9-13 overall and 2-9 in BIG EAST play. Freshman Stefan Vaaks (Tabasula, Estonia) scored a game-high 25, recording five three-pointers. Graduate student Jaylin Sellers (Columbus, Ga.) chipped in with 16 points for Providence. Sophomore Ryan Mela (Natick, Mass.) added 14 points and seven rebounds.
FIRST HALF:
• Jamier Jones (Sarasoata, Fla.) opened up the scoring in the game on a driving baseline effort. On the following possession, Jones got out on the break and was able to convert on another layup to give the Friars the early 4-0 lead (17:46).
• Stefan Vaaks got by his man and was able to finish at the rim to make it 6-4, Providence (16:39).
• Oswin Erhunmwunse (Benin City, Nigeria) was able to gather a lob from Vaaks and throw it down to pull Providence within one. Vaaks got through the lane again and was able to connect on a floater to have the Friars go up one, 10-9 (13:46).
• Jaylin Sellers got going with a pull-up jumper to tie the game at 12 after a Villanova basket (13:07).
• Nilivan Daniels (St. Louis, Mo.) checked into the game and was able to grab an offensive rebound and find Sellers for a wide open three-pointer to tie the game at 15 (12:18).
• Vaaks was patient maneuvering through the lane and was able to find enough space to pull up for a mid-range jumper to make it 23-18, Villanova (10:24).
• Vaaks found space again and was able to hit another mid-range jumper, 28-20, Villanova (8:45).
• Daniels was able to knock down a three-pointer after there was a loose ball gathered by the Friars. 37-25, Villanova (4:40).
• Ryan Mela (Natick, Mass.) was able to get through the lane and hit a floater for the Friars to make it 45-28, Villanova (0:39).
Villanova led at the half 45-28.
• Providence shot 12-27 (44.4%) from the field, 2-10 (20.0%) from three, and 2-4 (50.0%) from the free-throw line.
• Villanova shot 16-32 (50.0%) from the field, 8-17 (47.1%) from three, and 5-7 (71.4%) from the free-throw line.
• Vaaks led the Friars with eight points.
• The Friars held the advantage on the glass, 20-12.
• The Friars held the advantage in points in the paint, 16-10.
• Devin Askew led Villanova with 17 points off the bench.
SECOND HALF:
• Vaaks was able to knock down a three-pointer to open up the half, cutting into the Villanova lead, 45-31 (19:35).
• After a pair of Mela free throws, Vaaks was able to knock down back-to-back three pointers to pull the Friars within eight, 47-39 (17:44).
• After the Friars were able to convert on four free throws, Duncan Powell (Dallas, Texas) converted on his first three-pointer of the night making it 54-46, Villanova (11:43).
• Erhunmwunse got to the post and was able to connect on a turnaround hook shot. On the following possession, Vaaks knocked down his fourth three-pointer of the half to make it 59-51, Villanova (9:51).
• Mela drove through the lane and finished at the rim on back-to-back possessions to cut into the deficit (5:19).
• Sellers gathered a miss and was able to throw it down for a put-back dunk, making it 77-58, Villanova (4:33).
• Out of the media timeout, Sellers stepped back and knocked down a tough mid-range jumper and Mela connected on a pull up on the following possession to cut into the deficit (2:55).
• Mela continued to play hard and was able to drive through the lane and convert on a contested layup to make it 81-64, Villanova (2:06).
• Sellers and Vaaks were both able to convert on baskets down the stretch. 82-68, Villanova (1:27).
• Vaaks hit another three to pull the Friars within 12, 83-71 (1:16).
• Villanova won, 87-73.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Providence shot 28-58 (48.3%) from the field, 8-23 (34.8%) from three, and 9-14 (64.3%) from the free-throw line.
• Villanova shot 30-59 (50.8%) from the field, 13-29 (44.8%) from three, and 14-22 (63.6%) from the free-throw line.
• Three players finished in double figures for the Friars: Vaaks (25), Seller (16) and Mela (14).
• Erhunmwunse finished with a game-high 12 rebounds.
• The Friars won the rebound battle, 40-26.
• Vaaks extended his double-digit scoring streak to 22 games.
• Devin Askew led Villanova with 20 points.
UP NEXT:
The Friars will return to action when they return home to the Amica Mutual Pavilion to take on the Butler University Bulldogs on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 7:00 p.m. The game will be streamed on Peacock.
-GO FRIARS!-
FIRST HALF:
• Jamier Jones (Sarasoata, Fla.) opened up the scoring in the game on a driving baseline effort. On the following possession, Jones got out on the break and was able to convert on another layup to give the Friars the early 4-0 lead (17:46).
• Stefan Vaaks got by his man and was able to finish at the rim to make it 6-4, Providence (16:39).
• Oswin Erhunmwunse (Benin City, Nigeria) was able to gather a lob from Vaaks and throw it down to pull Providence within one. Vaaks got through the lane again and was able to connect on a floater to have the Friars go up one, 10-9 (13:46).
• Jaylin Sellers got going with a pull-up jumper to tie the game at 12 after a Villanova basket (13:07).
• Nilivan Daniels (St. Louis, Mo.) checked into the game and was able to grab an offensive rebound and find Sellers for a wide open three-pointer to tie the game at 15 (12:18).
• Vaaks was patient maneuvering through the lane and was able to find enough space to pull up for a mid-range jumper to make it 23-18, Villanova (10:24).
• Vaaks found space again and was able to hit another mid-range jumper, 28-20, Villanova (8:45).
• Daniels was able to knock down a three-pointer after there was a loose ball gathered by the Friars. 37-25, Villanova (4:40).
• Ryan Mela (Natick, Mass.) was able to get through the lane and hit a floater for the Friars to make it 45-28, Villanova (0:39).
Villanova led at the half 45-28.
• Providence shot 12-27 (44.4%) from the field, 2-10 (20.0%) from three, and 2-4 (50.0%) from the free-throw line.
• Villanova shot 16-32 (50.0%) from the field, 8-17 (47.1%) from three, and 5-7 (71.4%) from the free-throw line.
• Vaaks led the Friars with eight points.
• The Friars held the advantage on the glass, 20-12.
• The Friars held the advantage in points in the paint, 16-10.
• Devin Askew led Villanova with 17 points off the bench.
SECOND HALF:
• Vaaks was able to knock down a three-pointer to open up the half, cutting into the Villanova lead, 45-31 (19:35).
• After a pair of Mela free throws, Vaaks was able to knock down back-to-back three pointers to pull the Friars within eight, 47-39 (17:44).
• After the Friars were able to convert on four free throws, Duncan Powell (Dallas, Texas) converted on his first three-pointer of the night making it 54-46, Villanova (11:43).
• Erhunmwunse got to the post and was able to connect on a turnaround hook shot. On the following possession, Vaaks knocked down his fourth three-pointer of the half to make it 59-51, Villanova (9:51).
• Mela drove through the lane and finished at the rim on back-to-back possessions to cut into the deficit (5:19).
• Sellers gathered a miss and was able to throw it down for a put-back dunk, making it 77-58, Villanova (4:33).
• Out of the media timeout, Sellers stepped back and knocked down a tough mid-range jumper and Mela connected on a pull up on the following possession to cut into the deficit (2:55).
• Mela continued to play hard and was able to drive through the lane and convert on a contested layup to make it 81-64, Villanova (2:06).
• Sellers and Vaaks were both able to convert on baskets down the stretch. 82-68, Villanova (1:27).
• Vaaks hit another three to pull the Friars within 12, 83-71 (1:16).
• Villanova won, 87-73.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Providence shot 28-58 (48.3%) from the field, 8-23 (34.8%) from three, and 9-14 (64.3%) from the free-throw line.
• Villanova shot 30-59 (50.8%) from the field, 13-29 (44.8%) from three, and 14-22 (63.6%) from the free-throw line.
• Three players finished in double figures for the Friars: Vaaks (25), Seller (16) and Mela (14).
• Erhunmwunse finished with a game-high 12 rebounds.
• The Friars won the rebound battle, 40-26.
• Vaaks extended his double-digit scoring streak to 22 games.
• Devin Askew led Villanova with 20 points.
UP NEXT:
The Friars will return to action when they return home to the Amica Mutual Pavilion to take on the Butler University Bulldogs on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 7:00 p.m. The game will be streamed on Peacock.
-GO FRIARS!-
Team Stats
PROV
VU
FG%
.483
.508
3FG%
.348
.448
FT%
.643
.636
RB
40
26
TO
14
5
STL
1
9
Game Leaders
Pts
25
FGM
10
3FGM
5
FTM
0
Pts
16
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
F
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