Freshman Oswin Erhunmwunse scored a team-high 13 points as Providence cruised past visiting Delaware State 78-48 in Tuesday night nonconference action from Rhode Island's capital city. Erhunmwunse joined Corey Floyd Jr. (12 points) and Bensley Joseph (11 points, seven assists) in double figures for the Friars (5-0), who shot 49.
2 percent from the field and have held their first five opponents under 70 points per game for the first time since 1982-83. Christ Essandoko added nine points and a game-high 12 rebounds, helping lead Providence to a decided 48-24 advantage on the glass. Led by Joseph, the Friars also had 21 assists on 29 made field goals.
Kaseem Watson logged a game-high 18 points and pulled down nine boards for Delaware State (2-3). Robert Smith added 10 points. Providence jumped out to a 14-4 lead through 5:05 and expanded its double-digit lead to 36-23 by halftime.
Floyd scored the Friars' first five points and a team-leading eight in the period. Joseph's coast-to-coast finish helped the hosts respond to a 4-0 mini-run against them, but Delaware State wound up stringing together a 13-4 run to cut within 18-17 at 9:44. Watson scored seven of those points, including a late left-wing three.
The Friars responded with a 12-0 run, holding their opposition off the scoreboard for 5:26. Wesley Cardet Jr. got to the free-throw line for four of the first six points before Fernandez concluded the stretch with a corner 3-pointer off the bench at the 5:47 mark.
After Robert Smi.