Jared Bynum scored a season-high 19 points and hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 3:03 remaining as No. 15 Providence extended its winning streak to six games with an 86-82 victory over host St. John’s Tuesday night in Queens, New York.
Nate Watson added 15 of his 16 in the second half as Providence (19-2, 9-1 Big East) scored its last 11 points at the foul line and improved to 19-2 for the first time since the 1972-73 season.
Al Durham added 14 points despite going 1 of 10 from the field. He hit 12 of 13 free throws as Providence shot 81.8 percent (27-of-33) from the line.
Noah Horchler also finished with 14 as the Friars shot 45.5 percent and improved to 11-0 in single-digit games and 8-0 in games decided by five points or less.
Posh Alexander led all scorers with a career-high 29 points and 12 assists, but his second career double-double was not enough as the Red Storm (11-9, 3-6) lost for the sixth time in eight games.
Aaron Wheeler added 16 and Dylan Addae-Wusu chipped in 10 as St. John’s shot 65.6 percent in the second half and 49.3 percent overall on a night when leading scorer Julian Champagnie was held to eight points.
Alexander’s cutting layup around Justin Minaya put St. John’s up 74-72 with 3:34 remaining but Bynum hit a deep 3-pointer from the right side on the next possession and sank two free throws with 1:59 left to give Providence a 77-74 lead.
After Bynum drew an offensive foul on Esahia Nyiwe with 1:36 left, Watson split a pair at the line with 1:06 remaining and Durham hit eight free throws in the final 26 seconds.
Bynum hit three free throws right before halftime as Providence held a 40-32 lead by halftime. The Friars held a 65-57 lead on Bynum’s 3-pointer with 9:12 remaining before the Red Storm made their charge.
-Field Level Media
