Providence Opens With 89-79 Win Over Holy Cross as Vaaks Leads Bench Surge

Overview

• Providence's reserves delivered a 44-11 advantage, led by freshman Stefan Vaaks' 19 points and Jamier Jones' 16 on 7-for-7 shooting.
• The Friars led 44-27 at halftime and by 20 with 10:01 left before Holy Cross trimmed the margin to six in the final minute.
• Holy Cross guard Tyler Boston paced the Crusaders with 25 points and six assists.
• The game was played at 78 possessions, the fastest tempo of English's tenure according to KenPom, with stretches of full-court pressure.
• Oswin Erhunmwunse sparked Providence defensively with four blocks and eight rebounds, as English pointed to transition defense and securing boards as fixes.