Freshmen Grow Up Fast as Providence Outworks Creighton, Carries Momentum Into Milwaukee

On a Friday night that felt equal parts cathartic and clarifying, the Providence College men’s basketball team delivered its most complete performance of the BIG EAST season, knocking off Creighton, 93–88, in front of an energized crowd at the Amica Mutual Pavilion. Behind a career night from freshman Stefan Vaaks and a dominant effort on the glass, the Friars not only earned a much-needed conference win, but also carried renewed momentum into a challenging road test against Marquette later tonight.

Providence improved to 9–9 overall and 2–5 in BIG EAST play with the victory, while Creighton fell to 11–8 and 5–3 in league action. For head coach Kim English, the win was a reward for process as much as result.

“Another tough BIG EAST game,” English said postgame. “I thought our guys had a few good days of work with great attention to detail and focus tonight.”

That focus showed early, particularly through Vaaks, who set the tone from the opening possession. On Providence’s first offensive trip, the Estonian freshman calmly found Duncan Powell on a pick-and-pop for a three, giving the Friars a quick 3–0 lead. It was a sign of things to come from Vaaks, who blended scoring aggression with poise beyond his years throughout the night.

Creighton responded with efficiency at the free-throw line and strong perimeter shooting, but Providence consistently answered. Vaaks twice found Powell for early triples, while the Friars generated energy through defense and transition. Ryan Mela finished a fast-break layup after a steal, and Jamier Jones electrified the crowd midway through the half with an emphatic breakaway dunk to reclaim the lead.

The Bluejays, however, showed why they entered the night with one of the league’s better records. An 8–0 Creighton run pushed the visitors in front, forcing Providence to play from behind for much of the opening period. Corey Floyd Jr. provided a critical response, jumping a passing lane and finishing through contact for an and-one dunk that steadied the Friars.

Providence leaned on balance and ball movement to stay within striking distance. Mela scored from the post, Vaaks buried his first three of the night, and Jones continued to attack the rim. A late surge brought the Friars within one in the final minute, and despite Creighton holding a slim 46–45 advantage at the break, the momentum inside the building felt tilted toward the home side.

Jones led Providence at halftime with 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting, while Vaaks and Powell chipped in nine apiece. The Friars shot nearly 49 percent from the field, though free throws proved to be the difference, as Creighton went 13-for-14 from the line in the opening 20 minutes.

The second half belonged to Providence.

After forcing a tie-up to open the period, Powell tied the game at 46 from the stripe, and Mela followed with a crafty euro-step layup to give the Friars their first lead since early in the half. From there, Providence’s defensive activity and rebounding took over.

Vaaks orchestrated the offense with confidence, setting up Oswin Erhunmwunse for a thunderous lob dunk and then finishing a run-out layup after a Floyd Jr. block. Sellers added four straight free throws, and when Vaaks jumped a pass at midcourt and went coast-to-coast, the Friars suddenly held a commanding 65–57 advantage.

The stretch that followed was Providence at its best. Jones attacked downhill for buckets, Erhunmwunse punished Creighton on the offensive glass, and Vaaks knocked down a timely three off an offensive rebound to extend the lead to double digits. By the under-eight timeout, Providence had seized control at 74–64, outworking and outmuscling the Bluejays.

Creighton made a late push, as Jasen Green poured in points and the Bluejays tested Providence with pressure defense. But the Friars responded with composure. Jones broke the press for an and-one opportunity, Erhunmwunse collected yet another critical rebound, and Vaaks and Floyd Jr. calmly converted from the free-throw line to seal the 93–88 victory.

Vaaks finished with a career-high 24 points and seven assists, becoming the first BIG EAST freshman with three consecutive 20-point games since 2021. Jones and Erhunmwunse each recorded double-doubles — Jones with 18 points and 11 rebounds, Erhunmwunse with 14 points and 13 boards — marking the first time two Friars have accomplished that feat in the same game since March 2024 against UConn. Providence dominated the glass, particularly in the second half, outrebounding Creighton 30–15 after halftime and 46–37 overall.

The win sets the stage for another stern test tonight, as Providence travels to Milwaukee to face Marquette at 6 p.m. on FS1. It will be the Friars’ third game in seven days, and history suggests the challenge will be steep. Providence is just 3–16 all-time at Marquette and was swept convincingly by the Golden Eagles last season.

Still, the Friars enter tonight with tangible reasons for optimism. They lead the BIG EAST in scoring, free-throw percentage, and defensive rebounds, and their young core continues to grow in confidence. With Jason Edwards still sidelined due to a foot injury, the emergence of Vaaks, Jones, and Erhunmwunse has given Providence both production and belief.

If Friday’s win over Creighton was about proving what the Friars can be, tonight’s matchup with Marquette will be about sustaining it — on the road, against a familiar conference foe, with momentum hanging in the balance.