Where: Dunkin’ Donuts Center – Providence, RI

When: 6:30PM

How: Fox Sports 1 (Don Orsillo & Vin Parise)/WEEI 103.7 FM and Friars.com (John Rooke and Joe Hassett)/FriarTV

Game Notes

Providence is 1-0 all time against NJIT. The Friars won that game, 64-63, on November 10, 2012

Providence is 3-0 all time against the Atlantic Sun conference. The latest game against a team from that conference was November 15, 2009 when Providence defeated Mercer, 79-77.

NJIT is 3-1 on the season. The Highlanders fell at Kentucky to open the season but have rattled off 3-straight wins since then, including a road win at South Florida. They have also dispatched Boston University and Lafayette at home. The Highlanders are led in scoring by junior Damon Lynn at 18.5 points/game and rebounding by junior Tim Coleman at 6.8 rebounds/game.

Providence was led in scoring and rebounding by Rodney Bullock last time out against Brown. Bullock scored 24 points on 9/12 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds for his first career double-double.

Opening Line: Providence -12.5

Game Preview

Providence looks to improve to 4-0 on the season with a win over NJIT on Monday night at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. This will be the last game Providence plays at the Dunk in the month of November as they will travel to California to play in the Wooden Legacy Tournament over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. NJIT made some splashes on the national scene last season by winning at Michigan — ranked in the top 20 at the time — and they also took Villanova to the wire.

The probable starters according to the game notes are:

Providence

Kris Dunn – Junior

Junior Lomomba – Junior

Ryan Fazekas – Freshman

Rodney Bullock – Sophomore

Ben Bentil – Sophomore

NJIT

Winfield Willis – Senior

Damon Lynn – Junior

Ky Howard – Senior

Tim Coleman – Junior

Terrence Smith – Junior

The key to victory for Providence in this game will be defending the 3-point line. Damon Lynn is one of the most prolific 3-point shooters in the nation and the Highlanders will look to use the 3-ball to their advantage, especially since they are undersized compared to Providence’s team. Lynn and fellow guard Winfield Willis are both around 6’0 tall while the tallest player in Jim Engles’ starting lineup is 6’6 Terrence Smith. Look for Rodney Bullock and Ben Bentil to try to do damage inside and I also wouldn’t be surprised to see Kris Dunn attack the rim more aggressively in the one. Providence will be bigger at every position for most of the night and as long as they shadow Lynn and prevent him from getting hot from downtown they should win this game. NJIT is a veteran squad though so they will be well prepared and not get rattled, especially since I expect a pretty light crowd at the Dunk for the 6:30pm Monday night tip.

Prediction: Providence 80 NJIT 70

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