PROVIDENCE, R.I. - BYU travels to Rhode Island to face Providence on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at Amica Mutual Pavilion as part of the BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle. Tip is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET.
WHERE TO WATCH
Tuesday's game will be on FS1 with Dave Sims and Dickey Simpkins on the call.
WICKED GOOD MEMORIES
Tuesday will be the third all-time meeting between the two programs and first since Dec. 21, 1982 when BYU defeated the Friars 66-52 in Provo.
Tuesday's showdown will be BYU's first trip to face Providence at Amica Mutual Pavilion but isn't the Cougars' first trip to the Renaissance City, as they defeated Princeton and No. 10 UCLA at the Providence Civic Center during their run to the Elite Eight in 1981.
YOU CAN ALWAYS GO HOME
BYU assistant coach John Linehan returns to Providence where he played from 1997-2002. He was a two-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year after leading the league in steals three times.
✍️ I’d love to see John Linehan in the mix for a staff position at Providence. He’s a rising star in the coaching ranks.
— Rhody Vault (@RhodyVault) March 30, 2023
🎙He was a huge part of St. Joes success this past year. The former @PCFriarsmbb great was one the best defenders in NCAA history. pic.twitter.com/jp04eAaNm6
He finished his career with a then-NCAA record 385 steals that was broken in 2021 by Richmond's Jacob Gilyard. He was named the NABC Defensive Player of the Year as a senior after finishing second in the nation in steals.
EAST COAST COUGS
BYU's game at Providence on Tuesday is the first of four regular season games that the Cougars will play in the Eastern Time Zone this season, something they haven't done since 1962-63 when they played La Salle, Saint Joseph's, Ohio State and Memphis in a seven-day span.
FOUSS FACTS
Fousseyni Traore moved up to 43rd on the BYU all-time scoring list with his 10-point performance in Friday's win over NC State. The senior, who is averaging a career-high 13.3 points per game, is one of six playeres in NCAA Division I men's basketball to be shooting over 60.0 percent from the field (minimum 400 FG made).
RUN, RUN, RICHIE
Richie Saunders was named to the Rady Children's Invitational All-Tournament team after helping the Cougars finish third, following a 72-61 win over NC State.
dude was COOKIN’ https://t.co/tO1LyaDWyt pic.twitter.com/G0IZBaUt6D
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) November 30, 2024
During the two-day tournament, Saunders averaged 14.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. He shot 40.0 percent from the field, 40.0 percent from three and 90.0 percent from the free throw line.
HOLDING ON TIGHT
With its win over the Wolfpack, BYU extended its win streak to 34 games when leading with five minutes left in regulation.
