PROVIDENCE – Ed Cooley was one very relieved basketball coach Monday night.
After fretting for weeks and telling anyone who would listen how dangerous the Vermont Catamounts would be in a season opening game, Cooley’s Providence Friars dismantled the visitors from the America East in the second half and rolled to a 88-58 victory at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.
PC used a balanced scoring attack with Emmitt Holt (22 points), Rodney Bullock (18) and Ryan Fazekas (11) reaching double figures. Kyron Cartwright orchestrated the show with a career-best 12 assists.
But the calling card for the Friars was defense.