KINGSTON, R.I. (AP) - Bryce Cotton scored 16 of his game-high 19 points in the second half to lead Providence to its seventh straight victory in an 80-61 nonconference win over Rhode Island on Friday night.
The Friars, the first road team to win a game in this annual series in the last nine years, improved to 11-2 under new coach Ed Cooley, while the loss was the eighth straight for the Rams (1-11). Rhode Island is off to the program's worst 12-game start since 1974-75.
Providence (11-2), winning for the first time in five tries at Rhode Island's Ryan Center, led by just two points at the half and then ran away over the final 20 minutes.
Cotton, averaging 15.4 points per game, nailed back-to-back 3-pointers in an 8-0 spurt that turned a 41-40 lead to 49-40, and the Friars extended the lead to 12, 57-45, with 12:03 left in the game.
