Stonehill will have to find a way to contain some homegrown talent on Saturday when it hits the road for a meeting with host Providence.
Friars guard Bensley Joseph could cause some problems for the Skyhawks (1-1) after netting a game-high-tying 21 points in his Providence debut, a 59-55 win over Central Connecticut State on Monday. Joseph, who spent the previous three seasons at Miami, hails from Arlington, Mass., about 40 miles north of Stonehill’s campus in Easton, Mass. Although he considered Game 1 with his new team a success, Joseph wants the Friars (1-0) to put together a cleaner performance against the Skyhawks. Providence finished with 16 turnovers in its season opener.
“Us as a team just have to be better at taking care of the ball and just making the simple plays,” Joseph said. “Just gonna go back and watch film on this as a team, learn from it and be better for Saturday versus Stonehill.” Protecting the ball wasn’t as much of a problem for the Skyhawks (10 turnovers) during a battle with Notre Dame on Wednesday, but they still ended up on the wrong side of a blowout, falling 89-60 to the Fighting Irish.
Todd Brogna paced Stonehill with 16 points, while Ethan Meuser and Louie Semona chipped in 11 apiece. The Skyhawks haven’t been able to get settled in in the early going, as they made the trip to South Bend, Ind., early Tuesday morning, then had to head back to the East Coast on Thursday.
After facing the Friars, Stonehill will be off to Moon Township, Pa., for the Urban-Bennett Invitational, playing three games on Nov. 14-17. “It’s the level, the landscape and what you do here,” Skyhawks coach Chris Kraus said of the excessive travel.
Saturday marks the sixth all-time meeting between the programs. Providence is a perfect 5-0 against Stonehill
