Providence looks to rebound from just its second loss of the season when it visits Rutgers to begin Big East play Saturday.
The 25th-ranked Friars (8-2, 0-0) earned a ranking Monday for the first time since Feb. 18, 2001, after winning five straight - beginning with a 71-50 rout over ranked Illinois on Dec. 9.
Providence then fell 79-77 in overtime to No. 18 Texas on Monday.
Junior Ryan Gomes scored a season-high 28 points against Texas, topping 20 for his third straight game. The 6-foot-7 forward has scored in double figures in 24 consecutive games and leads the team with 20.4 points and 9.9 rebounds per game.
"It's tough but that's the thing about college basketball, you're going to win some and this was a tough one to lose," said Gomes, referring to a controversial layup at the end of overtime that sealed it for Texas.
Providence, which is shooting 45.8 percent from the field this season, was without its second-best scorer - Rob Sanders - who was injured in an 84-69 victory over Virginia on Jan. 3. The junior forward averages 13.4 points and is shooting 56.5 percent (13-of-23) on 3-pointers.
Friars coach Tim Welsh was forced to change a starting lineup that had been 15-4 in its previous 19 games dating back to last season. Junior Tuukka Kotti started in Sanders' place and finished with 10 points, four rebounds, and two blocks. The team has not said whether Sanders will travel to Rutgers.
The Scarlet Knights (7-4, 0-2) are still looking for their first conference victory after two losses. They almost pulled an upset over top-ranked Connecticut on Tuesday night, but slipped 75-74.
Forward Herve Lamizana had 20 points for Rutgers, which was outrebounded 53-40 overall but had a 20-17 advantage on the offensive end.
"We had them on the ropes," said Lamizana, who leads the team with 8.5 boards and 3.4 blocks. "All we can do about it is learn and move on."
Junior guard Ricky Shields paces the team with 14.4 points a game, but did not start for the first time in 70 games Tuesday. He came off the bench to score 19 points and seven rebounds.
The Friars hold a slim 6-5 edge over the Scarlet Knights, but are 2-3 on the road in the all-time series. They have won the last two, including a 70-55 decision on Jan. 22, 2002.
