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PROVIDENCE, R.I. – HBU got a 19-point debut performance from freshman David Caraher but the Huskies dropped the 2017-18 season opener at Providence, falling in the opening game of the 2K Classic Benefitting Wounded Warrior Project at Alumni Hall by a score of 84-55 on Friday evening.
 
HBU (0-1) got out to an early 6-4 lead after a layup by senior Josh Ibarra but a seven-point run by Providence (1-0) gave the Friars an 11-6 advantage. A quick five points from HBU freshman Ian DuBose tied the game back up at 11-11 with 12:46 left in the first half but the Friars again pulled ahead, leading 15-12 with just over 10 minutes on the clock. A 14-3 run capped by a Nate Watson layup put the Friars ahead 29-15 with a little under seven minutes remaining in the half. A pair of Caraher free throws made it an 11-point game at the 3:21 mark but Providence again pulled away to take a 42-23 lead into the half.
 
In the second period, with Providence leading by 19 just over five minutes in, freshman Philip McKenzie entered the game and immediately made an impact, pulling down three offensive rebounds and adding four points in the span of just one minute and 21 seconds. His second bucket came with 13:20 on the clock, making it a 57-39 game. The Friars pulled away further as the half went on, leading by as many as 30.
 
Caraher finished 7-of-13 from the floor and 3-of-8 from beyond the arc while also hitting both his free throw attempts to lead all scorers with 19 points. The freshman also added a game-high seven rebounds. Ibarra ended the night with eight points, five rebounds a pair of assists and a blocked shot while DuBose contributed seven points, a pair of steals and three boards.
 
The Friars had a balanced attack with eight players scoring at least seven points and four reaching double-figures. Maliek White led the way with 13 off the bench while Isaiah Jackson had 11 and Kalif Young finished with 10. Kyron Cartwright posted a double-double of 10 points and 10 assists.
 
Providence held a 43-40 edge on the boards with the Huskies grabbing 16 rebounds on the offensive end. HBU shot 31.7 percent (20-of-63) for the game and 18.2 percent (4-of-22) from beyond the arc. The Friars finished the game at 50 percent (31-of-62) from the field and hit 8-of-18 (44.4 percent) from deep.
 
The Huskies will return to Sharp Gym for their home opener this coming Tuesday, Nov. 14, when they host Arlington Baptist at 7:00 p.m.