Rider @ Providence preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 19, 2015 ) Rider 65, Providence 73

Never much of a scorer, Kyron Cartwright is beginning to shoulder more of the load for Providence, which can push its winning streak to five games Wednesday against visiting Rider. Cartwright has scored 31 points in the last two games, matching his total from the first three games for the Friars, who will look to beat the Broncs for the second time in the last three seasons.

"Kyron can be better than he thinks with his pace and his scoring ability," Providence coach Ed Cooley told the media. "He's become a very good shooter, but when he plays at an aggressive pace, he controls the game." Cartwright's ability to drive to the basket to score or to pass to a teammate was the difference in last week's 20-point victory over Boston College. His nine assists helped to set up teammates Rodney Bullock and Alpha Diallo to notch season highs in points against the Eagles. The Broncs, who have found a good one in freshman Jordan Allen, have followed a similar script as the Friars, splitting their first two games, including a loss to a ranked team, before rattling off four straight victories.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN

ABOUT RIDER (5-1): Allen, a 6-4 guard from Delaware, has scored in double figures in all six games for coach Kevin Baggett, including a career-high 22 points in the Broncs' most recent victory over Hampton. The two-time Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week is shooting 46.8 percent from 3-point territory on the season. Stevie Jordan, Frederick Scott and Dimencio Vaughn give the Broncs four players averaging double figures.

ABOUT PROVIDENCE (5-1): Senior Jalen Lindsey has had an interesting season for the Friars as all 13 of his made field goals have come from behind the 3-point line. The 6-7 guard, who is 0-of-5 from inside the arc, was third in the country in 3-point shooting entering Wednesday at 61.9 percent. The native of Tennessee has come a long way since shooting 29.3 percent from deep during his first two seasons with the Friars.

TIP-INS

1. Cartwright is eight assists shy of becoming the seventh player in Providence history to record 500.

2. Bullock, who eclipsed 1,000 career points against Boston College, and Lindsey each had a double-double as the Friars downed the Broncs 73-65 in 2015 to take a 3-1 lead in the series.

3. Led by Nate Watson, Makai Ashton-Langford and Maliek White, the Friars' bench has outscored their opponents 178-71 this season.

PREDICTION: Providence 78, Rider 72