This time there was no second half comeback in Newark.
When Providence last traveled to play Seton Hall on the road they shot just 26% in the first half, saw Kris Dunn go scoreless in the opening stanza, and trailed by eight points at the break before storming back in a convincing victory.
On that night Dunn lit up Seton Hall for 17 second half points, LaDontae Henton crossed the 2,000 point mark, and Ben Bentil had 21 points and 10 rebounds, as the Friars shot nearly 70% in an almost perfect second half.
History didn’t repeat itself a year later — not with the way Providence is playing as the season winds down. Bentil was once again a monster with 31 points before being ejected for a flagrant foul. Unfortunately, the Friars got little else.
Dunn looked slowed by the stomach ailment he was fighting through earlier in the week, as evidenced by his zero assists and one rebound. PC’s three other starters, Rodney Bullock, Junior Lomomba, and Ryan Fazekas combined to go scoreless on the night.
Seton Hall sophomore Isaiah Whitehead was a force throughout, scoring 25 points on 8-12 shooting to go along with nine assists, six rebounds and four blocked shots in the Pirates’ 70-52 drubbing of the Friars.
With the loss Providence drops to 19-9 on the season and 7-8 in Big East play. Since winning on the road against Villanova on Jan. 24, PC is just 2-6 in their last eight games.
Not surprisingly, Twitter was unkind to the Friars. Some had more of a field day than others.
Seton Hall Pirates will be polishing their dancing shoes / very IMPRESSIVE tonight with rout of Providence ,
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) February 26, 2016
Providence headed towards its fifth loss in the last six games. Ed Cooley masked a lot of deficiencies early this season.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) February 26, 2016
Providence at Seton Hall heating up in Jersey https://t.co/hsIlMzzj6E
— Big East Hoops 24/7 (@BigEastTourney) February 26, 2016
On Jan. 15, Wisconsin was 9-9 and Providence was 15-2. Now I'd much rather draw the Friars than the Badgers.
— Jeff Eisenberg (@JeffEisenberg) February 26, 2016
On a night when Kris Dunn doesn't have it, Ben Bentil does. Now has 29 as Providence is within 57-48 under 7 minutes.
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) February 26, 2016
There is a difference between a "team that will make the tournament" and a "tournament team". I'll let you guess which Providence looks like
— Brian Snow (@BSnowScout) February 26, 2016
I gotta say, I didn't see this Providence collapse coming. They were overrated when they were in the top ten but they've been awful of late.
— Rob Dauster (@RobDauster) February 26, 2016
Providence, meantime, could lose for the 5th time in 6 games and fall to 7-8 @BIGEASTMBB. Danger, Will Robinson.
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) February 26, 2016
Providence has 3 very winnable games coming up, so they should be ok..but man
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) February 26, 2016
Following halftime adjustments by @CoachCooleyPC, Friars are outscored in opening minutes of second half, 9-0, and fall behind by 16.
— Jim Donaldson (@JDonaldsonProJo) February 26, 2016
@MikeGorms according to @SteveLavin64 sounds as though Ben Bentil won't miss his next start for the Friars. #pcbb pic.twitter.com/wjNnXjE5kA
— Big East Hoops 24/7 (@BigEastTourney) February 26, 2016
For those asking, Ben Bentil won't miss his next game. Has to be fighting.
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) February 26, 2016
Ben Bentil is out here making himself some money right now.
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) February 26, 2016
Ben Bentil made 4 of 10 treys. Rest of @PCFriarsmbb 0-for-14 from beyond the arc.
— Jim Donaldson (@JDonaldsonProJo) February 26, 2016
Call is in to Ripley's "Believe It Or Not" — @PCFriarsmbb finally made a trey!
— Jim Donaldson (@JDonaldsonProJo) February 26, 2016
Look out below! Team plummeting! https://t.co/vuXYzjFYpk
— Jim Donaldson (@JDonaldsonProJo) February 26, 2016
Wonder if @PCFriarsmbb practiced shooting treys during the 8 days they had to get ready for tonight's game at #SetonHall.
— Jim Donaldson (@JDonaldsonProJo) February 26, 2016
First Friar ever, congrats Kris Dunn! #GoFriars<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/72x72/1f3c0.png" alt="