PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- In a game that can only be classified as bizarre, the Providence Friars nearly blew a 26-point lead in the final moments but held on to beat Mississippi State, 73-63.
The Friars led 61-35 with 10:54 to play but limped to the finish. With Bryce Cotton (lower leg) hurt, PC was left with only one guard: freshman Josh Fortune. The offense eventually hit the skids and the result was a 25-5 run that cut PC's lead to 66-60 with 57 seconds left. LaDontae Henton hit four clutch free throws and Kadeem Batts knocked in three to ice the game.
Batts finished with a career-high 32 points. Henton had 18 for the Friars (6-2). PC is back in action Thursday against Rhode Island.
The Friars played the entire second half without leading scorer Cotton who hurt himself late in the first half with what is being called a "lower leg" injury with 3:54 to play. Cotton had nine points in the half and didn't return in the second half.
The Friars shot 50 percent in the first half on the way to a 39-21 lead. Mississippi State really struggled solving PC's zone defense. They shot 19 percent (5-of-26) in the opening half and missed their first 17 thees. The Bulldogs (2-5) finished shooting 36 percent and 2-of-22 from the 3-point line.