PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP)—Randall Hanke scored 23 points to lead Providence past Vermont, 87-77, Monday night.
Weyinmi Efejuku added 16 points to lead three other Friars in double figures.
Both teams struggled in the first eight minutes with a combined 17 turnovers, 11 by Vermont. There were also six ties and eight lead changes in the first half. The Friars took their largest first-half lead, 22-14, when Efejuku hit his third straight three-point shot.
Vermont guard Mike Tromboli, who led the Catamounts, scored 10 of his 20 points in a 16-7 surge that put the Catamounts ahead 30-29. The Friars recaptured a 35-30 halftime lead on two free throws by Donnie Magrath and two baskets inside by Hanke.
Hanke scored 15 in the second half, while the Friars held Tromboli to just two points.
Geoff McDermott made a foul shot with 4:27 left to give Providence its biggest lead, 75-56. Vermont stormed back with a 16-5 rally in the next three minutes, with eight points from Martin Klimes, to cut the Providence lead to 78-72 at 1:35.
That’s the closest Vermont (0-2) came as the Friars (1-0) hit nine free throws in the final down the stretch.
