Noah Horchler had a game-high 16 points and seven rebounds, Ed Croswell totaled 13 points and 15 rebounds and Providence defeated rival Rhode Island 66-52 in their first meeting in nearly two years on Saturday in Providence, R.I.

Al Durham added 14 points and six assists, A.J. Reeves scored eight points and Nate Watson had seven for the Friars (8-1), who earned their third straight victory.

Jeremy Sheppard finished with 10 points to lead the Rams (6-3), who had their two-game winning streak snapped. Makhel Mitchell had nine points, Antwan Walker chipped in eight off the bench and Ishmael El-Amin added seven for URI.

Providence leads the all-time series 75-58 versus Rhode Island. It was the first meeting between the Ocean State rivals since Dec. 6, 2019. The teams did not meet for the first time in 89 years last season due to pandemic-altered scheduling.

The Friars won despite shooting just 36.5 percent (23-of-63) from the field. Meanwhile, the Rams shot 41.2 percent (21-of-51) from the floor but went 2-of-13 (15.4 percent) from 3-point territory.

Providence led 35-24 at halftime and opened a 48-31 advantage after Justin Minaya's layup with 13:31 remaining. Rhode Island scored 15 of the next 19 points to pull within 52-46 on Ishmael Leggett's layup with 7:29 left.

The Friars regrouped and closed out the victory with a 14-6 game-ending run.

Horchler's layup with 15:04 to play in the opening half capped a 13-2 game-opening run for the Friars.

Providence led 17-5 after Watson's dunk with 13:19 on the clock before Rhode Island used a 15-0 run to go up 20-17 after a pair of Sheppard free throws with 6:27 to go. The Friars closed the half with an 18-4 push to go up by 11 at the break.

--Field Level Media