David Duke scored 28 points and Nate Watson added 20 as Providence pulled away in the second half with a 79-67 home victory against Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday.

Duke, who blamed himself for the Friars' 1-2 showing in the Maui Invitational held in Asheville, N.C., shot 9 of 14 from the floor and added eight rebounds and two steals.

Watson, who entered averaging 18.5 points on 61 percent shooting, was 6 of 8 from the floor and made all eight free throws for Providence (3-2), which was tied with the Knights 31-31 at the half due to nine turnovers and being outrebounded 16-12.

Elyjah Williams had 15 points and eight rebounds and Jahlil Jenkins added 13 points for Fairleigh Dickinson (0-4), which has lost each game this season -- all on the road -- by double digits.

The Friars opened the second half on a 9-2 run with Duke scoring four points, then put together a 9-0 run minutes later for a 62-47 edge with nine minutes left. Alyn Breed hit a baseline runner and two free throws and Greg Gantt converted a three-point play on a fast break, and the Knights got no closer than 10 the rest of the way.

Providence shot 51.9 percent (27 of 52) but was just 1 of 15 from the arc after entering at 23.6 percent.

Duke scored 12 points and Watson eight in the first half. FDU got eight points from Williams and six points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals from Jenkins.

The Knights tied the game on a power dunk by Pier-Olivier Racine at the first-half buzzer.

--Field Level Media