Providence 61, Holy Cross 42: Bryce Cotton scored 27 points as the Friars cruised past the visiting Crusaders for their third straight win.

Providence (5-2) broke open a close game with an 11-2 run early in the first half to take a 15-6 lead and the Friars never looked back. Cotton, who came into the game as the eighth leading scorer in the nation, capped the run with a four-point play as Providence raced to a 30-19 halftime advantage.

LaDontae Henton recorded 19 points and 10 rebounds as the Friars held Holy Cross (4-3) scoreless for 8:03 in the second half. Providence scored 13 straight points during that stretch to build the lead to 52-27.

The Crusaders, who missed 19 of their 20 attempts from 3-point range, shot just 33.3 percent from the field and committed 15 turnovers. Dave Dudzinski paced Holy Cross with 11 points and eight rebounds.

NOTEBOOK: Cotton has scored at least 20 points in all six games he has played this season. ... The 19-point margin was the largest in the series since Providence posted a 90-65 victory in 1986. ... Holy Cross' 42 points is a season low.