Bryce Hopkins returned to the court, helping Providence secure an impressive 83-64 victory over BYU during the Big 12-Big East Battle on Tuesday night. Jabri Abdur-Rahim led the scoring with 21 points, showcasing his skills and contributing significantly to the win.
After recovering from an ACL injury sustained against Seton Hall on January 3, Hopkins made a strong comeback, playing 26 minutes. He finished the game with 16 points, five rebounds, and four assists, earning a standing ovation from the crowd as he exited with 2:44 left on the clock. Last season, he averaged 15.5 points and 8.6 rebounds over 14 games, and his return was a welcome boost for the Friars.
Abdur-Rahim shot 5-of-9 from the field and was instrumental in the Friars’ three-point shooting, making four of their 12 successful attempts. Jayden Pierre and Bensley Joseph also contributed with 12 points each, helping Providence improve to a 6-3 record.
For BYU, Dawson Baker was the standout performer, scoring 16 points, while Keba Keita added nine points and secured ten rebounds. Despite their efforts, BYU fell to 6-2.
Providence’s strong first-half performance was key to their victory, as Abdur-Rahim and Joseph combined for 21 points. The team shot an impressive 71% (15 of 21) from the field and made 8 of 12 from beyond the arc, establishing a 46-34 lead at halftime. Although Trevin Knell’s three-pointer helped BYU narrow the gap to 53-46, they couldn’t close the distance.
This victory marked Providence’s first win over BYU in three matchups, a significant milestone considering their last game in Provo, Utah, was on December 21, 1982.
Additionally, it was BYU’s first non-conference road game in the Eastern Time Zone since November 15, 2007, when they defeated Princeton 65-56.
