Providence 76, Rutgers 72: Bryce Cotton led four players in double figures with 22 points as the surging Friars downed the host Scarlet Knights to win for the fifth time in six games.

LaDontae Henton notched his second consecutive double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds for Providence (15-12, 7-8 Big East), which secured a first-day bye in the Big East tournament. Kadeem Batts added 14 points and eight boards while Vincent Council chipped in with 12 points and six assists.

Dane Miller scored 17 points and Kadeem Jack stepped up with a career-high 15 points for Rutgers (13-13, 4-11). Myles Mack, who is being asked to shoulder more of the offensive load with leading scorer Eli Carter out for the season, finished with nine points after averaging 26 over his previous two games.

Rutgers, 1-9 over its last 10 games, appeared to be on its way to ending its losing ways late in the first half when Derrick Randall scored four straight points to give the Scarlet Knights a 10-point lead. However, Rutgers went scoreless over the final 4:41 of the half, allowing Providence to roll off 19 unanswered points and take a 42-33 advantage into the break.

The Friars were unable to build upon their halftime lead and watched Rutgers knot the game at 52, but they did not trail again. Council’s layup with 16 seconds remaining answered the Scarlet Knights’ last surge and Cotton added two insurance free throws 11 seconds later to preserve the victory.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Providence secured four Big East road victories in a single season for the first time since 2008-09. … Rutgers scored more than 70 points for only the second time in conference play. … The Friars and Scarlet Knights committed seven turnovers apiece, matching a season low in league play for both teams.