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The Providence College men's basketball team dropped its season opener, 70-66, to Northeastern University on Saturday, November 15 in the Dunkin' Donuts Center. Senior Weyinmi Efejuku (Fresh Meadows, N.Y.) led the Friars with 16 points. Providence fell to 0-1 on the year, while the Huskies improved to 2-1.

The two teams traded baskets in the game's first five minutes until Providence went on a 8-0 run over the next 5:58 to make it 13-5, highlighted by a Jonathan Kale (Mattapan, Mass.) three-point play. A steal and dunk at the other end by senior Weyinmi Efejuku (Fresh Meadows, N.Y.) made it 18-13 at the 8:12 mark, but the Huskies stormed back and took the lead, 20-18, on a Eugene Spates three-pointer with 4:55 left in the first half. Northeastern played excellent defense, forcing 12 first-half turnovers, and entered halftime with a 26-25 lead.

The Huskies came out strong to start the second half behind Matt Janning's nine quick points and took a 40-34 lead with 13:26 to go in the contest. A three-pointer by Northeastern's Baptiste Bataille with 9:11 remaining made it 51-40 Huskies, but back-to-back threes by Brian McKenzie (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Jeff Xavier (Pawtucket, R.I.) cut the Northeastern lead to 51-46 at the 8:28 mark. McKenzie hit his third three-pointer of the half to make it 55-52 Huskies at 6:40 and a Geoff McDermott (New Rochelle, N.Y.) triple tied the game at 57 with 4:32 left. But Northeastern hit three clutch three-pointers in the game's final four minutes to seal the game for the Huskies.

Janning led NU with 24 points and pulled down six rebounds.

Providence plays three games over the next six days, all at the Dunkin' Donuts Center. The Friars face Dartmouth at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 18 and Sacred Heart at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 20. PC wraps up the week with a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Saturday, November 22 versus Maine.