NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- Bryce Cotton scored 13 of his 23 points in
the first half, leading Providence to a 67-55 victory over Seton
Hall in Big East action Sunday.



The Friars (9-7) captured their first Big East win after three
losses.



Providence took total command of the game with a 22-5 first-half
run, keeping the Pirates (12-5, 1-3) off the scoreboard for
almost a full six minutes. The Friars led by as many as 20 as
the outcome was never in serious doubt after the first half.



Besides Cotton, who also had nine rebounds, Providence received
12 points and 13 rebounds from LaDontae Henton. Vincent Council
and Kadeem Batts each added 11 points. Council also had eight
assists.



Seton Hall was paced by Fuquan Edwin, who finished with17
points, although he was plagued by foul trouble the entire game.
Haralds Karlis added a season-high 11 points.



The Friars put the defensive clamps down on the Pirates in the
first half. Cotton had six points during a 10-0 spurt, doing a
variety of things like an offensive tip-in and a corner shot off
the backboard.



Seton Hall made a bit of a run, thanks to the aggressive play of
Karlis off the bench. Karlis had two conventional three-point
plays during a stretch in which the Pirates climbed to within
28-19.



But the Friars outscored Seton Hall 10-2 over the final 4:43 to
take a commanding 38-22 lead at halftime.



At one point of the first half, the Pirates had taken just 15
shots, because they committed an astounding 14 turnovers, many
of which were unforced.



The Pirates were also hurt by two early fouls committed by
Brandon Mobley, forcing him to the bench for most of the half.



Seton Hall cut the lead to 49-35 on a driving basket by Aaron
Cosby with 12:51 remaining. Cosby had eight points in the first
seven minutes of the second half.



Tom Maayan nailed a 3-pointer, then made a driving layup with
11:02 to go, bringing the Pirates to within 49-40, the closest
they had been since early in the first half.



But Cotton hit a long 3-pointer with 6:54 left, pushing the
Providence lead to 58-44 and the Friars coasted from there.