Big East Nights Return: Friars Host Seton Hall in Providence

The BIG EAST calendar flips to Providence on Friday night as the Friars return home to host longtime rival Seton Hall in their conference home opener at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. on FS1, with Providence looking to bounce back from a heartbreaking double-overtime loss and reassert itself in one of the league’s most familiar matchups.

Friday marks another chapter in a rivalry that stretches back nearly a century. Providence holds a slim 60–56 advantage all-time against Seton Hall, with the Pirates standing as the Friars’ fourth most common opponent. Of the 116 meetings between the two programs, 50 have been played in Providence, where the Friars own a 31–19 edge. The series dates back to February 26, 1927, when Seton Hall earned a 25–24 victory in South Orange, and it has since become a staple of the BIG EAST landscape.

Providence enters the matchup at 7–5 overall and 0–1 in league play after a 113–110 double-overtime loss at Butler on December 13. Despite the defeat, the game etched its way into the BIG EAST record books, as the 223 combined points marked the second-highest total in conference history and the highest combined scoring output ever in a Providence game. The Friars’ offense was electric for long stretches, but timely defensive stops proved elusive in the final minutes.

Graduate student Jason Edwards was sensational in Indianapolis, pouring in a game-high 32 points, while fellow guard Jaylin Sellers added 26. The duo accounted for 58 of Providence’s 110 points and continued to establish themselves as one of the most potent backcourts in the conference. Edwards’ performance was emblematic of his season-long consistency, as he has now scored 20 or more points in six of the Friars’ 12 games — the most of any player in the BIG EAST.

Edwards enters Friday night leading the conference in scoring at 19.2 points per game and has already earned two BIG EAST Honor Roll selections this season. A preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team pick and a member of the Naismith Starting 5 Jerry West Award Watch List, Edwards has been the engine behind a Providence offense that currently leads the league in scoring at 91.7 points per game. He also ranks among the conference leaders in three-point efficiency, shooting 38.0 percent from beyond the arc.

Sellers has been equally impactful alongside Edwards. The graduate guard is averaging 16.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, while leading the BIG EAST in free-throw percentage at an impressive 90.0 percent (36-for-40). His ability to attack the rim, draw fouls, and convert at the line has been a steady source of offense, particularly in tight games.

Providence’s balance extends beyond its veteran guards. Freshman Stefan Vaaks has emerged as a reliable perimeter threat, leading the team with 31 made three-pointers and averaging 13.5 points per contest. Vaaks, who earned BIG EAST Freshman of the Week honors earlier this season, showcased his all-around game with a 10-point, 10-assist double-double against FDU and has repeatedly delivered in late-game situations.

Inside, sophomore Oswin Erhunmwunse anchors the defense. The Benin City native leads the BIG EAST with 38 blocks (3.2 per game) while also contributing 7.5 points and 7.3 rebounds. His rim protection has been central to a Friar team that leads the conference in defensive rebounds per game. Meanwhile, freshman Jamier Jones continues to impress with his efficiency, shooting 67.6 percent from the field and averaging 10 points per game.

Seton Hall presents a familiar challenge, but Providence will take confidence from last season’s 2–0 sweep of the Pirates, including a 91–85 win at Amica Mutual Pavilion and a 69–67 victory in Newark. With the Friars opening BIG EAST play at home and boasting a 648–249 all-time record in the building, Friday night offers an opportunity to turn the page quickly.

In a league where every possession matters, Providence’s high-powered offense will meet a Seton Hall team eager to spoil the Friars’ home opener. The stage is set for another competitive chapter in one of the BIG EAST’s oldest rivalries.